The Quarrel

American Playhouse – Season 11

In 1948 Montreal, on Rosh Hashanah, writer Chaim Kovler is forced to reflect on his religion when asked to be the tenth in a minyan. At the park, he suddenly sees an old friend whom he hasn't seen since they quarrelled when they were at Yeshiva together. Hersh Rasseyner, a rabbi, survived Auschwitz and his faith was strengthened by the ordeal, while Chaim escaped the Nazis, but had lost his faith long before. The two walk, reminisce, and argue passionately about themselves, their actions, their lives, their religion, their old quarrel, and their friendship.