Music As A Motif
Music is a motif throughout the memoir, and is shown chiefly through the eyes of the Rabbi. He is a man of song and is always singing show tunes and classic songs, but also changes the lyrics to suit himself or the theme of his sermon. Music is also shown to be something in the soul that is uplifting and representative of life and happiness; the family know that the Rabbi is going to regain his health again because he begins to sing again. Similarly at the end of his life, he has a stroke in the middle of a song, which is very appropriate because going out singing is exactly the way in which he would prefer his life to come to a close.
Forgiveness As A Motif
Forgiveness is a motif throughout the book, be it for large things (God forgiving Henry for being a man of violence) or small (the Rabbi forgiving Mitch for abandoning his faith and falling off the radar). Forgiveness of oneself is also tied in with this motif, as Henry struggles to forgive himself for his prior bad acts and for doing the opposite with his life that he knows his mother wanted him to do. Mitch also has trouble forgiving himself for letting his lifetime relationship with the Rabbi slide away.
Song As A Symbol
Song is a symbol of the Rabbi throughout the memoir. He is always singing and adapting lyrics for his own purpose and the familiar songs that he adapts and sings often come to symbolize the man himself for Mitch and his congregation once he has passed away.
The Power Of The Sermon as a Motif
The power of the sermon is a motif throughout the book largely because the ability to draw people to worship with a sermon that is unmissable is a talent shared by both the Rabbi and the Pastor. Both men are impossible to take their eyes from once they start to speak; people drive for miles around because they don't want to miss the sermon. Pastor Henry is even invited to give a sermon at another larger church in the area. Both men give a sermon that almost has a life of its own and is more powerful than they are. The lessons about faith that Mitch learns are almost always represented in sermons given at another time and made appropriate to his life by the things that transpire later.
Terrible Dress Sense As A Symbol
The Rabbi has terrible and unique dress sense and this comes to symbolize the man even in his absence. A typical outfit would consist of an Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts, socks and sandals, topped with a utility vest that an outdoorsman would wear, and nothing in the same color. This terrible dress sense comes to symbolize the man for Mitch and also the way in which he visually demonstrates to his flock that being oneself is perfectly acceptable.
