Chapter 17 Summary

Reuven and Danny are in their last year of college. Reuven tells Danny a mild anti-Hasidic story. Danny laughs until Reuven makes a disparaging comment about a tzaddik. Reuven apologizes immediately. However, Danny says that there is some truth to Reuven's comment.

Danny says that a wife has already been chosen for him which will make it even harder for him to get out of the rabbinic inheritance trap. Danny's brother, however, could inherit the tzaddik reputation instead of him. Danny's brother Levi has grown and they attended his bar mitzvah. Levi falls ill the next day and this worries Danny because if Levi doesn't inherit the tzaddik then he would have to instead.

Reuven and his father discuss how Danny's interest in psychology will severely hurt Reb Saunders. Reuven's father asks if Danny realizes what he is doing, as he will need...