Two Jewish teenagers in 1940s New York meet as playground rivals. After accidentally injuring Reuven, Danny calls on him at home to apologize. Their wariness turns to fascination and close friendship as each discovers and admires the other's differences.

Reuven is experienced, practical, and worldly-wise; while Danny is brilliant and mystical, incredibly erudite in some matters, but incredibly naive in others. To humble him, his father, an immigrant Hasidic rabbi, has followed the stern tradition of raising him in silence. He thirsts for the wider knowledge represented by Reuven's environment; while Reuven is enraptured by Danny's close-knit family and synagogue community.

Can their friendship survive the sharp differences between Danny's Orthodoxy and Reuven's Reform Judaism? Danny's people oppose the State of Israel as fanatically as Reuven and his father are working to create it. The issue threatens to make them enemies once again.

Cast overview:

Maximilian Schell .... Professor David Malter

Rod Steiger .... Reb Saunders

Robby Benson .... Danny Saunders

Barry Miller .... Reuven Malter