My Name Is Asher Lev

[bigred94champs]

Has anyone read this book or other books by Potok. I liked it as well as The Gift of Asher Lev and The Chosen and The Promise.
What do you guys think? I would especially like to hear what the Jews feel about this author.

Thanks!

[ChrisChillin]

I LOVE Chaim Potok's books!

I first read The Chosen my freshman year of high school for English, so then on my own I read The Promise, In the Beginning, and Davita's Harp. The Chosen is definitely #1!

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi all!

The only one of Chaim potok's works that I'm familiar with is The Chosen; I actually preferred the movie (with Robby Benson, Maximillian Schell & the late, great Rod Steiger) to the book.

There's a great story (related at the end of the movie/book) about a king who had a son whom he loved very much. (A friend & I discussed it once in the context of my friend's remark that, "God loves the lost sheep"). Initially, they were very close. But as the son grew up & grew older, he and his father also grew apart. They became estranged, almost totally so. The son moved far away. But the king loved his son very much & more than anything, wanted him to come back to him. So the king sent his son a message bidding him to return. Even though the son, deep down in his heart, may have wanted to return to his father, he felt that he could not, that the gulf between them was too great; he sent his father a message saying that he could not come back. The father, sensed what was in his son's heart, and sent him another message & said, "Then come as far as you can and I shall come to meet you." This story meant a lot to me during a difficult period in my life about 18 years ago & helped me when I decided to actively embrace my Jewish faith.

Be well!

ssv :hi:

[bigred94champs]

The promise is my favorite so far. The way Potok writes just sucks me in, I can't put it down.

Are there many Hasidic groups still in NY?

[Bill the Cat]

/ot hey BigRed!!! Welcome!! If you need help uploading an avatar at 25 posts, PM me and I'll be glad to help!!

[GrayPilgrim]

I read the Chosen in High School. I realy enjoyed it, but have not read any of Potok's other works.

[Fideist345]

Yesterday @ 08:55 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=364645#post364645)
bigred94champs:

Has anyone read this book or other books by Potok. I liked it as well as The Gift of Asher Lev and The Chosen and The Promise.
What do you guys think? I would especially like to hear what the Jews feel about this author.

Thanks!

Yep, I read it and The Chosen years ago. I still have The Chosen, buut I've lost Asher.

[bigred94champs]

Wow, I didn't know there was a movie. I just ordered the DVD, I hope it is as good or better than the book.

Gray Pilgrim - you have got to read The Promise at least.

[Timothy Leary]

Yesterday @ 05:58 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=365306#post365306)
bigred94champs:

The promise is my favorite so far. The way Potok writes just sucks me in, I can't put it down.

Are there many Hasidic groups still in NY?

There are many vibrant, active Hasidic groups in New York. A Rabbi that I know and respect deeply grew up in that area.