Book One, Chapter Three Summary

In Chapter Three, Reuven calls Rachel the day after he and Michael go sailing. It is Shabbat and Professor Gordon and his wife have just arrived home from a trip. Rachel says that it isn't a good day to visit. But Reuven still talks to Professor Gordon on the phone and arranges to meet with him. Abraham Gordon and David Malter (Reuven's father) are friends; although Gordon, it turns out, is a very liberal Jewish rabbi. But Reuven is still interested in him.

Professor Gordon and his family want to meet with Reuven's best friend Danny. They have arranged a meeting, but Danny had to delay because of an emergency with one his boys.

In a flashback, Reuven is in January 1950. Reuven has become dissatisfied with the new rabbi teacher of his, Rabbi Rav Kalman, who is...