Reuven Malter

Reuven Malter is The Promise's main character. He is also one of the major characters in Chaim Potok's most famous book and prequel to The Promise, The Chosen. Reuven Malter is the son of Rabbi and widely renowned Talmudic Scholar David Malter. He grows up in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, which has become a largely Jewish neighborhood. After World War II ends, floods of Jewish immigrants come to the United States and substantially change the neighborhood, along with the theological community.

Reuven is studying to become a rabbi like his father, although he has interests of his own, particularly in philosophy and logic. Reuven deeply respects his father and helps him to research his book on Talmudic interpretation; he must also deal with the tirades and ideological teaching of his Talmud teaching Rav Kalman.

Early in the book, Reuven develops a strong interest in the work...