The Chosen

by

Chaim Potok

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An Orthodox rabbi and the professor of the highest-level Talmud course at Hirsch College. He teaches both Reuven and Danny and is a formidable and intimidating presence at the school. Reuven comes to learn that Gershenson is not as traditional as he seems but must repress some of his more radical ideas to teach at this highly conservative college.
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Rav Gershenson Character Timeline in The Chosen

The timeline below shows where the character Rav Gershenson appears in The Chosen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
...combines both religious and secular study. Danny is in the highest Talmud class with Rav Gershenson and Reuven is in the second highest. Danny is also studying psychology, but to his... (full context)
Chapter 14
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...Reuven tries to forget Danny but cannot, especially because they are now both in Rav Gershenson’s Talmud class. (full context)
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Rav Gershenson has a practice of asking his students progressively harder questions until they are stumped. Then... (full context)
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Rav Gershenson would cold call students in his class, so everyone had to be prepared for every... (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
...encounters a very difficult passage and somehow knows that this is the one that Rav Gershenson will ask him about. He reconstructs the text using his father's method and also memorizes... (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
World War II and War Theme Icon
Rav Gershenson does call on Reuven when it comes to this difficult passage. Reuven starts to explain... (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Rav Gershenson asks Reuven to stay after class. He asks Reuven whether he studied by himself and... (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
After school Reuven goes to look up Gershenson’s name in the library and he cannot find it anywhere. He realizes that he is... (full context)
Chapter 15
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...Malter returns home from the hospital but is still too weak to do anything. Rav Gershenson now calls on Reuven regularly and Reuven always answers well. Reuven comes to accept his... (full context)
Chapter 16
Choosing and Being Chosen Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...Reuven continue their old habit of meeting before and after school. They now dominate Rav Gershenson’s class with their debates. Danny tells Reuven that he has now become resigned to experimental... (full context)