Essay Questions

Why do you think Mitch was suspicious of Henry at first?

Mitch was initially suspicious of Henry because he seemed to be doing too much good for those around him, and to be content with absolutely no financial reward for it whatsoever. He also had trouble wholly believing in him because he was aware of his criminal past and thought that he must be playing some kind of "angle", possibly keeping donations, or operating a criminal activity behind the facade of the church. He may also have been unaware that he was making snap judgements or assumptions; since Henry did not look or behave exactly like a pastor is generallye expected to, it was hard for Mitch to trust that he was one. It is only after talking to Cass, and spending more time with Henry, that he realizes the pastor is completely genuine, and that he feels the work and kindness he is doing in his life now is what he owes to God for the wrongs that have gone before.

There are many similarities between the Rabbi and the Pastor, What are some of the key ones and how does Mitch come to realize them?

The most obvious and frankly mysterious similarity between Rabbi Albert and Pastor Henry is that they are both nicknamed "the Reb" by their closer "flock". This is a sign for Mitch that he is being guided in his journey to meet both men by a higher powere. Both men are incredibly gifted at giving a sermon, and are well known not just within their own church or community but outside of it as well. Their sermons are powerful and charismatic, and usually the reason that people come to worship with them in the first place. Another key similarity is that both men were raised by both parents in God-fearing, religious families, and both came from very poor backgrounds were there was little money for much at all, yet both of their father's believed in their sons wearing a good suit. Although their lives were spent very differently, both men felt like they should not be praised or rewarded for the incredible work they did, or the example they set, because they believed that the way they were living and leading was what they were supposed to be doing in the first place, and therefore they should not get a surfeit of "brownie points" for it.

Mitch starts his journey happy in his early decision to leave his faith behind him. How does his view change during his journey, and what changes it?

Rabbi Lewis cleverly guides Mitch along his journey without seeming to press or pressure him into reconsidering his decision to leave his faith behind. Mitch thought of his religion and its practise was something that he would leave in his youth, as he went out to become a "citizen of the world", and never really thought much of the decision or weighed up whether it had been a good one or not. In spending time with the Rabbi, and seeing how faith is really something that keeps the community together, he begins to realize that he has left behind something extremely important and traded it for something far less so. The Rabbi has kept up with everyone he ever taught at religious school or got to know as a member of the synagogue. He visits when people need it, he telephones, he keeps the community alive and each service, the community comes out to connect with something bigger than itself. He also reminds Mitch that he has been so busy looking in front of him to the next thing all of the time that he has forgotten how to look up. Mitch realizes that his friendships and communications are never in depth, and mostly consist of a few words in an email or a text message. He has forgotten how to live as part of a community, and forgotten how to rely on the lessons he was taught as a young man. In getting to know the Rabbi he also get to know himself again and realizes that his faith is far more important than he had realized.