Clearly a classic.  I guess I can't say that until I have read it at least a second time but I am thinking that when I finish it the second time and perhaps the third or fourth time I will be able to confirm that this book is definitely a classic.  Here's a good way to put it, I hardly ever read a book a second time.  There are too many wonderful books out there to waste my time reading a book a second time.  However, I finished the book a week or so ago and I started it again yesterday.

Some thoughts I had:

• The main character is hit with a baseball in the eye.  In the hospital he realizes how he has taken his eyes, his health for granted.  I stopped to think of things that I take for granted.  However, as I read the list I wonder if those typical things (health, family, church, reading, sewing...) are really what I take for granted.  I mean, they came to mind immediately.  When I really think about it, I do appreciate all those things.  So what do I take for granted?  Can I realize those things without some sort of disaster?

• There seemed to be a parallel between the setting of the story during WWII and the American Jews themselves.  Hatred of Jews - WWII: hatred between American Jews - religious "war".

• True friendship is portrayed in the book.  Friendship is another word like "love" that we throw about so often in hyperbole that we rarely use it in the true fashion anymore.  Here is an interesting quote: " Two people who are friends are like two bodies with one soul."

• There was a time in Jewish history in Poland when the discussions of the rabbis was no longer connected to "the desperate needs of the masses of Jews."  The book points this out and denounces the scholars that became only interested in showing "how much they knew, how many texts they could manipulate" to argue minute points of the Talmud.  I can see how easily this can happen where education is elevated to the highest regard.  I am sure it happens among the scholarly in any field of study today.

• It seemed to me that the Torah was raised to the position of God.  Do they worship God or God's book?

• I liked how one character consistently referred to God as "the Master of the Universe".  It is good to remember that He is in control of everything at all times.

• Here is a quote I haven't processed yet:  "If a person has a contribution to make he must do it in public.  If learning is not made public it is a waste."  Can this be true?

Ok, I'm stopping.  These are just a few of my notes and I already have a couple new ones the second time around.  Clearly a classic.