Book Two, Chapter Five Summary

Weeks pass between October and December. Reuven sees Rachel only a little and Michael not at all. He settles into a steady rhythm of seminary and philosophy classes. He sees Danny briefly and hears that Michael is doing as well as expected. He sees Rachel, who asks him about the Kotzker Rebbe. 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.

During this time, Reuven's father finishes his manuscript and Reuven runs into Professor Gordon at the Zechariah Frankel Library, looking over a negative review of his work in the Orthodox profess. Reuven hears little about Michael.

Book Two, Chapter Five Analysis

Chapter Five opens Book Two and it transitions between the time period...