Book Analysis: My Name Is Asher Lev
“My Name Is Asher Lev”
One World Essay Everyone has people in their life that play a very important role in their decision making and choices they make. In the novel “My Name Is Asher Lev”, the main character, Asher Lev, has two very important figures directing his life. One of the important figures in Asher’s life is the Rebbe. The Rebbe is the most powerful leader in the Hasidic Jewish community. When anyone is looking for advise, guidance, or approval of something, they go to the Rebbe. The Rebbe basically tells the people in his community what to do and the people will always listen to him. Asher talks to the Rebbe several times. When the Rebbe talks to Asher about being an artist in his Hasidic Jewish community, the Rebbe tells Asher he must pursue being an artist and have Jacob Kahn be his mentor. After this point in the novel, Jacob Kahn begins to be the other important figure in Asher’s life. Jacob gives Asher a lot of advice on how to live his life and what he must do to be a successful artist. The Rebbe and Jacob Kahn both try to guide Asher in the right direction he needs to be going his life, but their advice tends to conflict each other throughout the novel. If Asher listens to both men, he will not be able to live in both worlds as an artist and a loyal Jew in his Hasidic community.
O’Brien 2
The Rebbe is the most powerful leader in Asher’s Hasidic community. Everyone in the community goes to him for advice or guidance on how to live their life. He dictates what everyone does in the community and all of the people tend to listen to him. Asher goes to the
Rebbe several times throughout the novel and gets several different pieces of advice on how he should live his life. One time when Asher talks to the Rebbe, the Rebbe tells him, “I bless you in the name of your grandfather, may you have a life of Torah and the commandments” (page 191). The Rebbe is telling Asher that he must live a good life and be a loyal Jew like his father, Aryeh. This
One World Essay Everyone has people in their life that play a very important role in their decision making and choices they make. In the novel “My Name Is Asher Lev”, the main character, Asher Lev, has two very important figures directing his life. One of the important figures in Asher’s life is the Rebbe. The Rebbe is the most powerful leader in the Hasidic Jewish community. When anyone is looking for advise, guidance, or approval of something, they go to the Rebbe. The Rebbe basically tells the people in his community what to do and the people will always listen to him. Asher talks to the Rebbe several times. When the Rebbe talks to Asher about being an artist in his Hasidic Jewish community, the Rebbe tells Asher he must pursue being an artist and have Jacob Kahn be his mentor. After this point in the novel, Jacob Kahn begins to be the other important figure in Asher’s life. Jacob gives Asher a lot of advice on how to live his life and what he must do to be a successful artist. The Rebbe and Jacob Kahn both try to guide Asher in the right direction he needs to be going his life, but their advice tends to conflict each other throughout the novel. If Asher listens to both men, he will not be able to live in both worlds as an artist and a loyal Jew in his Hasidic community.
O’Brien 2
The Rebbe is the most powerful leader in Asher’s Hasidic community. Everyone in the community goes to him for advice or guidance on how to live their life. He dictates what everyone does in the community and all of the people tend to listen to him. Asher goes to the
Rebbe several times throughout the novel and gets several different pieces of advice on how he should live his life. One time when Asher talks to the Rebbe, the Rebbe tells him, “I bless you in the name of your grandfather, may you have a life of Torah and the commandments” (page 191). The Rebbe is telling Asher that he must live a good life and be a loyal Jew like his father, Aryeh. This
Bibliography: Potok, Chaim. My Name Is Asher Lev. New York: Knopf; [distributed by Random House, 1972. Print.