My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 5 Stars

[Holly R W]

After watching the Israeli show "Shtisel" on Netflix this past spring, I wanted to reacquaint myself with a book I had read long ago, "My Name is Asher Lev". In the show, a main character is Akiva, a young man who wants to be an artist, though his decision is not respected by his religious community. Similarly, the book features Asher Lev, a boy born into a hasidic Jewish family who is an artistic genius. I was looking for a fuller answer to how art is looked at in these deeply religious communities.

The book touched me on many levels. It is the story of Asher Lev whose artistic talent seeps out of every pore. As a young child, drawing pictures came to him naturally. Instinctively, he then sought to embellish them with the materials he had at hand. He used cigarette ashes as one would use chalk. He used sand to create texture. Next, he began to see the small differences in colors, shadows and light when looking at objects. Then, he trained himself to see planes and depth. All of this took place innately, self-taught. The progression was fascinating to read about.

The art work worried his parents, particularly his father. They both hoped he would outgrow this foolishness. To make matters worse, Asher did very poorly in school as he had no interest in studying. His passion for art was all consuming.

His parents were very interesting and bright in their own right. His father went on missions to Europe in order to help his rebbe rebuild religious communities there. He undertook some very dangerous work in Russia as part of this. Asher's mother supported her husband's work while going to college herself and ultimately getting a doctorate degree in Russian studies. Their religion and hasidic community were central to their lives. Asher's mother tried to bridge what she saw as the growing distance between Asher and his father. She loved them both.

Asher's parents perceived his art as potentially leading him away from their religious values. They did not want him to give in to what they saw as evil impulses. Surprisingly, the Rebbe disagreed and arranged for Asher to be taught art formally by Jacob Kahn, a well-known artist who was also a nonreligious Jew.

To say anything more would spoil the story for others. My eyes were teary at the end of the book.

[Jgrace]

What a good review! I've always thought I might like this book. Now I really want to read it. Thanks!

[Holly R W]

Thank you, JGrace! I hope you enjoy it! I just learned today that the author was an artist himself. Perhaps that's why he could write so knowledgeably about growing up with artistic talent.