My Name Is Asher Lev
The struggle to find one's identity is a universal theme that is especially prevalent in Chaim Potok's novel, My Name Is Asher Lev. As an Orthodox Jew, Asher's gift for art is looked upon very unfavorably. Despite the disapproval of his community and father and the pain his art causes those around him, he pursues his passion and must find a way to reconcile the conflict between his religious identity and his individual identity.
Potok starts off with the main character delivering three short sentences that set up the basis for the entire book. Before the reader learns anything about Asher Lev or the plot of the story they are confronted with the following statement:
I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions. As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all - in the way that I am painting. (Potok 3)
These three sentences are the foundation on which Potok builds his entire novel. Without understanding why the Orthodox Jewish community disapproves art, Potok's novel would have no basis. Deuteronomy 5:8 states that:
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth.
Although art is not expressly forbidden, Orthodox Jews have "a longstanding abhorrence of anything that even smacks of idolatry" (Megilligan n.p.), and art is viewed by Orthodox Jews as "essentially the heritage and property of pagan (Greek and Roman) and Christian culture -- unsuitable by definition for the Jew" (Stern 3141). Therefore, to become an artist, one would have to renounce Hebrew iconoclasm, "the Jewish custom forbidding any formal representation of living things" (Marchesseau 20-21). Throughout the novel, Asher strives to keep a balance between his art and his religion, but ultimately ends up isolating himself from his community.
Himself an artist, Potok draws on personal experience for the writing of
Potok starts off with the main character delivering three short sentences that set up the basis for the entire book. Before the reader learns anything about Asher Lev or the plot of the story they are confronted with the following statement:
I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions. As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all - in the way that I am painting. (Potok 3)
These three sentences are the foundation on which Potok builds his entire novel. Without understanding why the Orthodox Jewish community disapproves art, Potok's novel would have no basis. Deuteronomy 5:8 states that:
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth.
Although art is not expressly forbidden, Orthodox Jews have "a longstanding abhorrence of anything that even smacks of idolatry" (Megilligan n.p.), and art is viewed by Orthodox Jews as "essentially the heritage and property of pagan (Greek and Roman) and Christian culture -- unsuitable by definition for the Jew" (Stern 3141). Therefore, to become an artist, one would have to renounce Hebrew iconoclasm, "the Jewish custom forbidding any formal representation of living things" (Marchesseau 20-21). Throughout the novel, Asher strives to keep a balance between his art and his religion, but ultimately ends up isolating himself from his community.
Himself an artist, Potok draws on personal experience for the writing of