To write a summary of this book would do it injustice. Moreover, giving away the plot takes away the fun. Potok has a gift for sketching out what the magical world of Judaism looks like. While I was reading the dialogues, I could almost hear the characters with accents (like Danny's father, Reuven's father, their Talmud teacher Reb, etc.). I do sympathize with those who do not know some of the Jewish terms (e.g. tzaddik, Torah, Mishnah, Talmud, etc.). It would have helped to have a glossary, but an attentive reader would be able to figure out from the context what the terms meant.The story is not merely about Judaism; it's about friendship and parenthood. What does it mean to have a "soul"? But none of these values or principles makes sense unless it is embedded in the narrative of two rather different Jewish boys growing up as best friends.