"The Magic Barrel" by Bernard Mallamud

The Magic Barrel, like the other stories written by Bernard Mallamud, a Jewish writer, is concerned with Jewish theme and Jewish life. Although the Jewish communities mostly live meager lives, their lives are controlled by a lot of religious rules and laws which help them keep far away the Devil or more important closer to their Great Father, God. Here, the story reminds us, or at least the Jews, one of their most important principle, a principle above all principles: "Love your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul. Love people as yourself". Though the principl…