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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. What does Kalman keep telling Reuven as far as Reuven himself is concerned?

2. Who does Michael talk about?

3. Who asks Danny to visit?

4. What is Abe Greenfield's area of expertise?

5. What does Reuven read that infuriates him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kalman think about Reuven as his student?

2. What does Kalman say to Reuven about his smicha exam?

3. What does Reb Saunders tell Reuven and what does Reuven do?

4. What do Reuven and Professor Gordon discuss when Reuven visits him?

5. What does Reuven tell his father about his meetings with Rav Kalman and what is David Malter's response?

6. What is the difference in scholarly approaches between Kalman and Reuven's father.

7. Describe Abe Greenfield and his problem at opening of Chapter 8.

8. What does Michael say about Rav Kalman's article?

9. What does Danny tell Reuven and what is Reuven's reaction?

10. What does Danny give Michael and what does Michael say about it to Reuven?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of The Promise concerns theology. Many of the major characters are either Rabbis or studying to become a Rabbi. Michael, who is still a boy, makes perhasp some of the most interesting statements about god. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think Michael means when he says "God is smoke"?

2. Michael says he cannot get God out of his mind--discuss that statement in light of Michael's personality.

3. Are Michael's problems mostly spiritual; mostly psychological, or a combination of the two? Discuss thoroughly with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why? How is Michael Gordon's emotional problems a metaphor for the changes taking place in the realm of Jewish theology?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition. What is Reuven's view of tradition? Kalman's? Michael Gordon's? Professor Gordon's? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to tradition?

Essay Topic 3

Kalman picks on Reuven by having him read Gemora aloud and critiques his interpretations. Reuven reads Kalman's book on ethics. Discuss the following:

1. What is ethics? How do you think the topic figures in during the telling of The Promise?

2. Why do you think Kalman is picking on Reuven in class?

3. Do you think it is ironic that Kalman wrote a book on ethics and yet he obviously picks on a student just because Kalman sees him with someone with whom Kalman disagrees?

4. Discuss the major characters (Kalman, Reuven, Danny, Professor Gordon, Michael Gordon and David Malter) and tell why you think each is ethical or not, giving one example for each to illustrate your point.

(see the answer keys)

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