Danny’s father in The Chosen has the surname Saunders.
Reb Saunders is the father of Danny Saunders and the leader of a Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn. He is a powerful religious authority whose expectations strongly influence Danny’s education and future. His relationship with his son is central to the novel’s exploration of inherited tradition and personal freedom.
Reb Saunders raises Danny in an unusual way, using silence as part of his education. This method troubles Danny but also encourages him to develop emotional awareness and empathy. The contrast between Reb Saunders and David Malter gives the novel two distinct models of Jewish fatherhood and learning.
The surname is sometimes mixed up with Malter, the family name of Reuven and his father. Keeping the two surnames separate is important because the boys’ friendship bridges two families with different religious cultures.