The centerpiece of A Human Rights Odyssey is the lifelong friendship of Isaac Levin and Jeremy Williams.  The template came from Chaim Potok's masterpiece, The Chosen. In both novels, two young from different worlds come together and learn from one another.  In The Chosen, Danny Saunders comes into contact with Freudian psychology which he uses as a clinical therapist.  Reuben admires the religious fervor of the Hasidim and decided to become a rabbi rather than a mathematician.  In A Human Rights Odyssey, Isaac Levin develops a deeper understanding of people of color which he later translate into social action.  Jeremy learns much more about Jewish people and develops a deeper understanding of Jewish customs, Jewish history, and Yiddish.