In My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, the main character, Asher, is born a Hasidic Jew with devoted religious parents. Since childhood, he was placed in a difficult situation where he was torn between following his religious views or pursuing his passion for art. Being a Hasidic Jew means abiding by the Torah and adhering to the lifestyle it suggests. Jews are strictly prohibited from drawing figures, yet Asher still became absorbed in the artistic realm. Despite the contradictions Asher was faced with, he learned to persevere in his fascination with art, which ultimately outweighed his religious expectations.
Asher’s early years consisted of an abundance of drawings ranging from sketches of his mother to draw the world as a dreadful place. As years passed, he slowly became a fanatic of artistry; however, drawing was frowned upon and served as an opposition to his religion. Asher’s craze of art gradually became extreme when he unconsciously drew in a Chumash and “was frightened at the picture [he] had drawn” of the Rebbe. (Potok 124) A Chumash is one of the five books of the Torah and drawing in one is seen as a “desecration of the Name of God” as it disrespects their beliefs entirely. (Potok 123). Additionally, the Rebbe is recognized as the charismatic leader of a Hasidic sect, drawing him unsympathetically is regarded as profane. Asher’s carelessness in the situation depicted how art served as an obstacle to his studies and more importantly, his religion. Subsequently, prior to Asher having his bar mitzvah, the Rebbe called him into his office. At the end of their confrontation, Asher discovers he has been assigned to a Jewish mentor named Jacob Kahn who is specifically there to guide Asher in his artwork. In spite of this, Asher’s father, Aryeh, was never too fond of the idea of his son fulfilling his dreams of becoming an artist. The continuous disagreements between Asher and his father resulted in the distance, yet Asher “[didn’t] want there to be trouble
Asher’s early years consisted of an abundance of drawings ranging from sketches of his mother to draw the world as a dreadful place. As years passed, he slowly became a fanatic of artistry; however, drawing was frowned upon and served as an opposition to his religion. Asher’s craze of art gradually became extreme when he unconsciously drew in a Chumash and “was frightened at the picture [he] had drawn” of the Rebbe. (Potok 124) A Chumash is one of the five books of the Torah and drawing in one is seen as a “desecration of the Name of God” as it disrespects their beliefs entirely. (Potok 123). Additionally, the Rebbe is recognized as the charismatic leader of a Hasidic sect, drawing him unsympathetically is regarded as profane. Asher’s carelessness in the situation depicted how art served as an obstacle to his studies and more importantly, his religion. Subsequently, prior to Asher having his bar mitzvah, the Rebbe called him into his office. At the end of their confrontation, Asher discovers he has been assigned to a Jewish mentor named Jacob Kahn who is specifically there to guide Asher in his artwork. In spite of this, Asher’s father, Aryeh, was never too fond of the idea of his son fulfilling his dreams of becoming an artist. The continuous disagreements between Asher and his father resulted in the distance, yet Asher “[didn’t] want there to be trouble between [them]” because he still had a part of him that had the desire to please his father. (Potok 196) Aryeh had a difficult time grasping the Rebbe’s decision; Aryeh spent his life traveling for the Rebbe and being a dedicated Hasidic Jew, and now he suddenly witnesses his son spending his life painting. When Asher became associated with Jacob Kahn, it was the ultimate shift of him unintentionally drifting from his religion and taking a step towards art. Asher showed a sense of spirituality through the actions he chose to do. His faith and worship of his religion were slowly becoming to fade when his obsession with art got intense.
It had become apparent that Asher favored art more.