In 'My Name Is Asher Lev,' we delve into the life of a young Jewish boy torn between his artistic passion and the expectations of his devout community. Asher's journey of self-discovery takes him from the confines of his family's traditional beliefs to the vibrant world of art that challenges everything he knows. His struggle to balance faith and creativity leads to a profound conflict that shapes his identity. Will Asher ultimately choose to follow his heart, or will he succumb to the pressures of his upbringing? This poignant tale explores the complexities of culture, creativity, and the quest for personal truth.
By Chaim Potok
Published: 2003
"Art is a reflection of the soul, and creating it is the truest form of worship."
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this modern classic from the National Book Award–nominated author of The Chosen, a young religious artist is compulsively driven to render the world he sees and feels, even when it leads him to blasphemy. “A novel of finely articulated tragic power .... Little short of a work of genius.”—The New York Times Book Review Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid who keeps kosher, prays three times a day and believes in the Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. He grows up in a cloistered Hasidic community in postwar Brooklyn, a world suffused by ritual and revolving around a charismatic Rebbe. He is torn between two identities, the one consecrated to God, the other devoted only to art and his imagination, and in time, his artistic gift threatens to estrange him from that world and the parents he adores. As it follows his struggle, My Name Is Asher Lev becomes a luminous, visionary portrait of the artist, by turns heartbreaking and exultant.
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“Art is a reflection of the soul, and creating it is the truest form of worship.”
My Name Is Asher Lev
By Chaim Potok
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Chaim Potok (1929-2002) was an American author and rabbi, renowned for his insightful exploration of Jewish identity and cultural conflict. His most notable works include 'The Chosen' (1967), which tells the story of two boys from different Jewish backgrounds, and 'My Name Is Asher Lev' (1972), which follows an artist's struggle between faith and artistic expression. Potok's writing style is characterized by its deep emotional resonance, richly drawn characters, and the intricate interplay of tradition and modernity, reflecting his own experiences as a Jewish intellectual in America.
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