Reb Saunders, Danny, and Reuven learn that a major German offensive has been repelled in the Battle of the Bulge and that the Allies apparently will win the war. Americans, along with the rest of the world, mourn the murder of millions of Jews slaughtered by Hitler. Reb Saunders speaks of the European Jews he had known who are probably dead, of the brutality of the world, of his years in Russia with Cossack bands looting and plundering, and now, of the monstrosity of Hitler and the Nazis.
Reuven and his father discuss Reb Saunders’ opinion that the Holocaust must be the result of divine will. Mr. Malter disagrees and says that because millions of Jews were murdered needlessly, they cannot wait for the Messiah to come or for other help in creating a Jewish state. Jews must do the work themselves.
Mr. Malter suffers a heart attack. During his convalescence at the hospital, Danny and his family invite Reuven to stay at their house, and he accepts. Danny and Reuven spend much time at the library, especially discussing the ideas of Freud. Reuven thinks that Freud’s theories are hardly complimentary to a religious person, so he finds it odd that Danny seems to have accepted Freud’s ideas. To Reuven, Talmudic ideals and Freudian ideas cannot coexist. However, when he tells this to Danny, Danny says nothing and goes back to his reading.
One morning during breakfast in the Saunders’ house, Reuven says that a lot of people are saying that it is time for Palestine (the current state of Israel) to become a Jewish homeland and not only a place where pious Jews go do die. Reb Saunders becomes enraged at Reuven and leaves the table, visibly upset. Later, Danny tells Reuven not to talk about a Jewish state in front of his father, who takes God and Torah very seriously. A secular Jewish state to the Reb is a sacrilege, a violation of the Torah.
