Book Two, Chapter Six Summary

In the first part of Chapter Six, Reuven finds himself in class with Rav Kalman. Kalman is the intensely orthodox teacher at the Hasidic seminary. Reuven notes many rumors surrounded Kalman, such as that he watched his family shot during World War II, that he had been in a concentration camp and escaped, etc. He is a very harsh man and a very ideological and heavy-handed teacher.

After class, Kalman calls Reuven up to talk to him and asks him whether he was associating with Professor Gordon at the Frankel library. Reuven said he had spoken with him, and Kalman reminded him that Gordon had been excommunicated and demands that Reuven respect the excommunication by dissociating from Gordon. Reuven protests but eventually leaves without argument.

A friend tells him that rumors about him are circulating that he...