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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Why is Michael taken away?
2. What does Danny give Michael?
3. What does Danny say about Kotzker Rebbe?
4. What does Ruth Gordon want?
5. Who does Kalman believe has the authority to interpret ancient Hebrew texts?
Short Essay Questions
1. What does Kalman say to Reuven about his smicha exam?
2. What do Danny, Rachel, Reuven and Eileen go to see and what is their response?
3. What does Danny think about isolation and what does Danny want Reuven to do?
4. What is the essential argument of the second part of Rav Kalman's article attacking David Malter's book?
5. What does Reuven think about the reason for orthodox Jews to become so stubborn?
6. What does Danny give Michael and what does Michael say about it to Reuven?
7. What is the difference in scholarly approaches between Kalman and Reuven's father.
8. Describe the altercation between Kalman and Greenfield.
9. How is David Malter's recent book release still affecting the community?
10. Describe Abe Greenfield and his problem at opening of Chapter 8.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Reuven asks his father about Kotzker, who it turns out is an eccentric rabbi who has shut himself up in a room for twenty years and has disagreements with many Hasidic sects.
Discuss the following:
1. Research the historical Kotzker Rebbe and write an informative essay on him and how the historical facts match up with what is said in The Promise.
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a scholar isolating himself for twenty years.
3. Can you ever think of a reason you would isolate yourself for twenty years?
4. Relate the anecdote about Kotzker Rebbe to the theme of silence in the Promise. What other situations are related to the theme of silence? Who tries to silence other? Why?
Essay Topic 2
Kalman reminds Reuven that Professor Gordon was excommunicated and demands that Reuven respect the excommunication by dissociating from Gordon. Discuss the following:
1. What is ex-communication in the Jewish tradition? What are the reasons for ex-communicating someone?
2. Do other religions practice ex-communication? Which ones? What are the reasons for ex-communicating someone?
3. Does ex-communication seem like a good way to deal with a dissenter? Why or why not?
4. How is ex-communication a form of control?
Essay Topic 3
In Chapter 4, David Malter is impressed that Gordon has a theology where Jews can fail to believe but remain observant. Discuss the following:
1. Why do you think Jews who do not believe in God would want to still observe the religious rituals surrounding the Jewish religious beliefs?
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of following the outward form without the inner beliefs.
3. Do you think it is a common practice for a person to follow the outward trappings of his/her religion (whether Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hindu, etc...) but not actually believe?
4. If you no longer believed in the spiritual/theological ideas behind the outward practice of your religion, would you continue to participate in the ceremonies that are a part of your belief system? Why or why not.
This section contains 1,106 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |