Journal Entry #8

5

• Reuven and his father went to Dr. Snydman's office to check on his eye. Thank God that his eye is fine and now he can read, play baseball and do whatever he wants. He forgot to ask the doctor about Billy, but he wanted to go back to see how Billy has been. Reuven called Billy's father to see ask about Billy and he said that the operation was not successful.
• Reuven hasn't seen Danny in a week mainly because they have to study for their final exams. They spoke on Wednesday (on the phone) and Reuven noticed Danny's voice sounding sad.
• It's summer time! Reuven is back to playing baseball and most of the days both Danny and Reuven study the Talmud. Reuven invited Danny to dinner once, but he gave a "lame excuse". Reuven's dad told him that most likely Danny eats no where other than his house or his father's followers because of their beliefs, so he shouldn't ask him again.
• Danny is a teenage boy who reads a lot and he is now reading a book by Freud. After he finished reading Reuven came over and saw him mad. Maybe it was because of something he read about his religion. Danny has been questioning his own beliefs lately.
• Reuven and his father have gone on vacation near Peekskill, as they do every month of August. When he came back he found out that Danny had gone by bus to Lakewood with his father and it was terrible because they didn't say a word to each other except for the few minutes they spoke about the Talmud. Also, Danny has completed reading many of Freud's volumes.

4

• I have the same question as Reuven, has Danny been reading does books about Hasidism, since that's what made him sad last time?
• Why is Danny's father so afraid to speak to him?
• When will Danny tell his father about the way he feels about their relationship?
• Will Reuven say anything else to Danny's dad?

3

• kashruth (177): laws prescribed for Jews
• panzer (177): defense
• terminology (181): terms belonging to a particular science, art...

2

• "I could eat a horse" (173). Idiom.
• "Its leaves were bathed in sunlight" (174). Personification.

1

• Danny's relationship with his father has not gotten any better. The good news is that his goal was to start reading books by Freud and he has finished many of them, already. Reuven and Danny are still good friends. =]