The Gift of Asher Lev
The Gift of Asher Lev is a novel by Chaim Potok, published in 1990. It is a sequel to Potok's novel My Name Is Asher Lev.
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidism, sometimes Hasidic Judaism, is a Jewish religious group. It arose as a spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine during the 18th century, and spread rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most affiliates reside in Israel and the United States.
Who is Asher Lev?
Asher Lev is a Hasidic Jew and a gifted artist, a member of the somewhat insular and highly observant Ladover sect. He is the son of Aryeh Lev and Rivkeh Lev. From the time he is a little boy in Brooklyn, New York, Asher has ingenious instincts and a talent for drawing.
What is the plot of my Name is Asher Lev?
My Name Is Asher Lev is a novel by Chaim Potok, an American author and rabbi. The book's protagonist is Asher Lev, a Hasidic Jewish boy in New York City. Asher is a loner with artistic inclinations. His art, however, causes conflicts with his family and other members of his community.
What happened to Asher Lev's mother?
Asher Lev is a child with an extraordinary gift for painting. His father, Aryeh, is an emissary for the Rebbe, the leader of the Ladover Hasidic community. When he is younger, his uncle, His mother Rivkeh's brother, dies and it destroys her.
What kind of person is Aryeh Lev?
He is extremely firm, and usually so in a demeaning manner. Aryeh Lev – Asher's father and an important member of the Jewish community. Deeply committed to his work for the Rebbe, he travels throughout Europe building yeshivas and saving Jews from Russian persecution.
Is My Name Is Asher Lev autobiographical?
Autobiography; Coming of Age Even though Asher Lev is a fictional character, he's still writing an account of his own life—last time we checked, that's called an autobiography.
Is Asher Lev a boy?
It tells the story of Asher Lev — a boy growing up in a Hasidic Jewish family in 1950s Brooklyn who has a prodigious gift as an artist.
Who is Jacob Kahn in My Name Is Asher Lev?
Jacob Kahn is the temperamental genius sculptor whom the Rabbi hires to mentor Asher. He's best friends with Picasso (no big deal or anything), has survived a bunch of pogroms in Europe, and is regarded as the greatest living sculptor alive—he's kind of a triple threat, in other words.
How Old Is Asher Lev in the book?
around 22 years of ageAsher Lev – Asher is the protagonist and narrator of the story. The book takes the reader through the first segment of Asher's life, ending when he's around 22 years of age.
Who wrote My Name Is Asher Lev?
Chaim PotokMy Name Is Asher Lev / AuthorAbout the author Chaim Potok (February 17, 1929 – July 23, 2002) was an American Jewish author and rabbi. Potok is most famous for his first book The Chosen (1967), which was listed on The New York Times' best seller list for 39 weeks and sold more than 3,400,000 copies.
When was My Name Is Asher Lev written?
My Name is Asher Lev is a novel by Chaim Potok that was first published in 1972.
What happens in The Gift of Asher Lev?
Asher Lev is a world-renowned artist living with his young family in France. Still, he is unsure of his artistic direction. Success has not brought ease to his heart. Then Asher's beloved uncle dies suddenly, and Asher and his family rush back to Brooklyn—and into a world that Asher thought he had left behind forever.
Where does Asher have his art shows?
In mid-July, Kahn takes Asher to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kahn shows Asher many crucifixions in order to show him developments in artistic techniques.
How does the community react to his final gallery show in the novel?
They arrive at the end and see the Crucifixion paintings and they are horrified. They storm out of the show and tell him he has crossed a line—they are too angry for further words.
Who is Rivkeh Lev?
Rivkeh is Aryeh ’s wife and Asher ’s mother. As a young woman, Rivkeh is like a light-hearted older sister to Asher, but after her older brother Yaakov dies suddenly, she suffers a psychological and… read analysis of Rivkeh Lev
Who is the mashpia in Asher's yeshiva?
The mashpia is the religious instructor in Asher ’s yeshiva. He frequently speaks to the students about Hasidic doctrine, Ladover history, and the struggles of Jews in other countries. He speaks with Asher personally… read analysis of Rav Yosef Cutler (the mashpia)
Who is Rivkeh's husband?
Aryeh Lev is Rivkeh ’s husband and Asher ’s father. He came to Brooklyn from Europe as a teenager, after his father’s murder. He is descended from a long line of scholarly Hasidic Jews who… read analysis of Aryeh Lev
Where does Rivkeh's sister live?
Rivkeh ’s sister who lives in Boston.
Who is Rivkeh's brother?
Uncle Yaakov is Rivkeh ’s older brother. He does not appear directly in the story, but his death in a car accident when Asher is six is devastating to Rivkeh, to whom he was a… read analysis of Uncle Yaakov
Who is the rebbe?
The Rebbe is the leader of both the Brooklyn Ladover community and the worldwide Ladover movement. The Rebbe is a mysterious, somewhat reclusive, and larger-than-life figure. However, he is caring, thoughtful, and perceptive in personal… read analysis of The Rebbe
Who is Jacob Kahn?
Jacob Kahn is a famous sculptor who was once part of Picasso’s circle in Paris. He fled Nazi persecution to the United States during the Second World War. When Asher first meets him, he has… read analysis of Jacob Kahn
How old is Asher Lev?
Asher Lev – Asher is the protagonist and narrator of the story. The book takes the reader through the first segment of Asher's life, ending when he's around 22 years of age. During his childhood, Asher is overwhelmed with his passion for drawing and painting so much that he becomes apathetic towards most of the world around him. Because of his lack of dedication and focus towards his education, the people surrounding him (mainly his father) begin to feel ashamed of what he has become. Asher isn't rebelling intentionally, but he has grown too strongly attached to his art that he can't help himself. As Asher grows older, he learns to channel his emotion and energy into his artwork and becomes immensely successful.
What is Asher Lev's real religion?
Just as they were oppressed and punished for their beliefs, Asher is negatively viewed by his father, his teachers, and his peers. Art is Asher's real religion, and not only he, but his mother suffers for it. When Asher tries to portray his mother's suffering, " [his] search for a motif reveals none powerful enough in [his] own tradition, and so [he] turn [s] to the central theme of suffering in the Christian tradition: crucifixion."
What book did Potok continue Asher Lev's story in?
Potok continued Asher Lev's story in the book The Gift of Asher Lev .
Why does Asher refuse to move to Vienna?
Asher becomes very upset about this and refuses to move to Vienna, in spite of requests from his parents and teachers alike. Rivkeh ultimately decides to stay in Brooklyn with Asher while Aryeh moves to Vienna alone.
What did Rivkeh do after she recovered from her illness?
After she recovers from her illness, she returns to school to finish her brother Yaakov's work. She receives a master's degree and then pursues a doctorate in Russian affairs. Rivkeh is torn, but ultimately sides with her husband, and goes with him to Europe leaving Asher behind to live with his uncle.
Why does Krinsky tolerate Asher?
Krinsky feels that Asher shouldn't cause a good man like his father so much trouble. Despite this, he tolerates and enables the art because he is friends with Asher. Yaakov – Asher's uncle who died in a car crash when Asher was six years old. His death had a very profound effect on Asher's mother.
Why did Asher paint the crucifixion?
Later, after relocating to Paris, Asher paints his masterpiece: two works that use the symbolism of the crucifixion to express his mother's anguish and torment, since there is no artistic form in the Jewish tradition to fully express these feelings.
Who did Asher study with?
As an adolescent, Asher begins his study with Jacob Kahn. Kahn teaches him to channel his emotions into art. Asher begins to grow up and to gain some control over his gift. In these years, Asher balances his commitments to his community and to art.
What is Asher taught?
He is inculcated with the values of the community and is taught to love God, Torah, and his fellow Jews. Furthermore, as an only child, he is raised to be particularly close to and dependent on his parents, who are, for Asher, at the center of this community.
What is Asher's community?
Asher is a fascinating creature with two powerful and conflicting forces pulling him in opposite directions. The first is the community in which he is raised. The Ladover community is tight-knit and all encompassing. A person can live his entire life in this community without ever interacting with someone from the outside. Growing up, Asher's life is filled with religious indoctrination in school, at home, and from the people in his community with whom he interacts. He is inculcated with the values of the community and is taught to love God, Torah, and his fellow Jews. Furthermore, as an only child, he is raised to be particularly close to and dependent on his parents, who are, for Asher, at the center of this community.
What does Lev do as a boy?
As a boy, Lev is unable to control this desire and does not really understand it. Sometimes, he simply spaces out and draws. On one occasion, this desire leads him to steal; the strong influences in his life begin to come into conflict. As an adolescent, Asher begins his study with Jacob Kahn.
Where does Asher leave his home?
He leaves his home for Europe. There, free from his parents, he is finally able to understand his community better. He reflects on his upbringing and his parents and grows tremendously. For the first time in his life, Asher faces serious internal conflict. He is tormented by his mother's anguish.
Is Asher still a child?
As his period of time studying with Kahn comes to a close, Asher is at a crossroad. He has developed significantly as an artist, but is still a child. He leaves his home for Europe.
Is Asher Lev fully resolved?
Still, he is not fully resolved to his decision. My Name is Asher Lev concludes with Asher still, in many ways, unresolved. He was not fully comfortable with his decision to display his crucifixions, not comfortable with bringing pain to his parents.
Who is Asher Lev's father?
Asher Lev is a child with an extraordinary gift for painting. His father, Aryeh, is an emissary for the Rebbe, the leader of the Ladover Hasidic community. When he is younger, his uncle, His mother Rivkeh's brother, dies and it destroys her. Asher's mother becomes ill. She stays at home sick for a while after being released from the hospital.
Where does Asher go?
Asher begins to plan a trip to Europe. Asher goes to Florence and is enthralled by the artwork. He is particularly taken with Michelangelo's Pietà. He moves on to Rome and then Paris. He begins to experiment with alterations in the Pietà, alterations in the artistic form of the crucifix.
What does Asher ask his uncle about?
Asher asks if he can live with his uncle. Asher's father begins to worry about his son's drawing. Asher draws a menacing looking picture of the Rebbe in his Chumash one day in class. The Mashpia calls him in to talk to him about how he is doing.
What does Aryeh ask the Rebbe for?
Aryeh asks the Rebbe for permission, which he grants. Asher's early summers are spent in a bungalow colony. There, he has opportunity to grow closer with his mother. Aryeh's work with Russia intensifies. The entire community, Asher included seems obsessed with the Russians and their persecution of Jews.
Why does Asher move to Vienna?
The Rebbe asks Asher's father to move to Vienna in order to better perform his work.
What does Asher do to Aryeh?
His mother takes him to the museum and explains the paintings of crucifixions to him. Asher begins to sketch crucifixions and nudes. These arouse the ire of Aryeh, who discovers them when he returns home for Passover.
Why does the Rebbe ask Asher's father to move to Vienna?
The Rebbe asks Asher's father to move to Vienna in order to better perform his work. Asher does not want to move to Vienna and makes this known to his parents, his uncle, and Krinsky. Asher begins drawing again. Asher's parents and teachers are concerned about him. Asher asks if he can live with his uncle.
What is the uniqueness of "My Name is Asher Lev"?
The uniqueness of My Name is Asher Lev is that it does not offer answers and solutions, instead of letting the readers discover the truth on their own. As it was stated earlier in this paper, the truth is in the eye of the beholder. For some readers, Asher would present himself as a selfish and petulant individual, who chose his own hobby over his father, mother, and the rest of the community, bringing them great grief and pain in order to fulfill his desire to draw. Others, on the other hand, would find the community to blame for Asher’s exodus and accuse them of selfishness and close-mindedness’, which would have otherwise hidden a great talent from the rest of the world.
What are the two people that Asher cherishes the most?
Aside from art, the two people Asher cherishes the most are his mother and father. The boy is closer to his mother, whom he loves and pities at the same time, as she suffers from his brother’s death, becoming fragile in spirit (Potok 2003). He does not forsake his parents, as they are family, and every person has very deep connections to those who raised and cared about them all their lives. At the same time, the gift forces a wedge between Asher and his home, which only escalates as the story progresses further. From a mere concern, Asher’s gift becomes the reason why he is ostracized and eventually exiled from the community.
Who is Jacob Kahn?
Jacob Kahn, who is Asher’s closest friend in the book, helps further the rift between the artist and his father. The reason why he encourages Asher to choose art over family is that he had already made that choice and understood that artistry is above the notions and beliefs of the Jewish community. He knows that as long as Asher tries to balance out the two sides of his life, he would forever walk the knife’s edge until eventually, the internal contradictions would tear him asunder. In that sense, Asher’s talent was indeed a curse. It forced him to make a dreadful choice, which would have never happened should his talent have been different.
Overview
My Name Is Asher Lev is a novel by Chaim Potok, an American author and rabbi. The book's protagonist is Asher Lev, a Hasidic Jewish boy in New York City. Asher is a loner with artistic inclinations. His art, however, causes conflicts with his family and other members of his community. The book follows Asher's maturity as both an artist and a Jew.
Plot
Asher Lev is a boy with a prodigious artistic ability born into a Hasidic Jewish family. During his childhood in the 1950s, in the time of Joseph Stalin and the persecution of Jews and religious people in the Soviet Union, Asher's artistic inclination brings him into conflict with the members of his Jewish community, which values things primarily as they relate to faith and considers art unrelated to religious expression to be at best a waste of time and possibly a sacrilege. It brings …
Setting
My Name is Asher Lev is placed in the 1950s in a Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. Asher also studies art outside his community in New York, Massachusetts, and Europe.
Characters
Asher Lev – Asher is the protagonist and narrator of the story. The book takes the reader through the first segment of Asher's life, ending when he's around 22 years of age. During his childhood, Asher is overwhelmed with his passion for drawing and painting so much that he becomes apathetic towards most of the world around him. Because of his lack of dedication and focus towards his education, the people surrounding him (mainly his father) begin to feel ashamed of …
Themes
This book explores conflicting traditions (in this case the tradition of Judaism and the tradition of art), father versus son, contentedness with one's life versus peace in the family (the Jewish value of "shalom bayit"), the traditional Jewish world versus secular America.
My Name Is Asher Lev explores the nature of suffering. The discrimination that Asher's father has against Asher's artistic tendencies can be related to the suffering of the many Jews in Russia an…
Reception
Considered one of Potok's best works, it has a sequel, The Gift of Asher Lev. The first "Brooklyn Crucifixion", a work by Asher which plays a central role in the novel's conclusion, is an actual painting by Potok, who was an accomplished artist as well as a novelist and rabbi; the second Crucifixion, which is described in the book as being superior to the first, does not have a real-life counterpart.
Adaptation
In January 2009, Aaron Posner's adaptation for the stage premiered in Philadelphia at the Arden Theatre Company. It was subsequently produced by the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland in March and April 2010. In 2012, the play was staged at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven and by the Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. The first New York City Off-Broadway production of the play opened at the Westside Theater on November 28, 2012. The play won the Outer Critics Ci…
See also
• Bildungsroman