Animoto

Title: My Name Is Asher Lev
Author: Chaim Potok
Setting: 1943-Mid 1970s
Major Conflict: Asher love for art has shunned him from the Ladover (Jewish) community.
Climax: Asher's parents see the crucifix paintings.
Ending: Asher's parents distance themselves from him. Rebbe asks him to leave the Ladover community.

Presentation: Jorge Garcia for AP English III

Rivkeh Lev

Asher Lev Wordle

What message was Asher trying to convey by resist moving to Vienna with his parents?

Asher's resistance against moving to Vienna was initially characterized as fear of moving to an unknown place in a foreign country. Though his real reasons can be identified by his resistance to his father's work for the Rebbe. Asher's lack of understanding of his father's work for the Rebbe and religious mission's has unfairly characterized his father's emotions towards him. In fact, Asher believes that if he resist the move to Vienna it will be more of a resistance of the Jewish religion. Subsequently, it shows that his father's spreading of hope and prosperity for the Rebbe is shadow by his son's lack of interest in the religion and the Torah. Rivkeh, Asher's mother, believes strongly in allowing him to be more open in his accepting of different agenda's. But her love for Aryeh plays a devastating role in Asher's development into a none practicing Jew. It can also be concluded that Asher didn't want to continue to be burdened by his father's lack of motivation and acceptance of his art. If he would have gone with his parents in would lead to him stopping the most important thing in his life at that particular time, his artistic representation. By his parents allowing him to stay in Brooklyn with his uncle meant refuting the move to Vienna with his parents showed a sense of disrespect and misunderstanding of the Jewish word his father is trying to make prominent in Austria. Ultimately, Asher's decision impacted his life, most notably his perspective of his father, whom up to that point was against anything that Asher did that concerned art. With winning the Vienna struggle it solidified his resentment to his parents was religious, not personal.

What is the significance of his mother's crucufixtions?

Asher paints against values that both his parents and Jewish community have set upon him. His lack of interest in Jewish traditions is seen when he continuous his passion for his gift of art. Asher's individual thinking that contradict the Rebbe's recommendations has shunned him from his parents and community. It became apparent that Asher put his artistic representation above anything that has/had significant relevance in his life, including his religion and family. During his time in Paris, Asher reflected on the pain that he caused his parents, especially his mother both physically and emotionally. He realized the pain his mother went through during his childhood and beyond. Asher, who doesn't intend to hurt anyone, conveys his observances of people's feelings through his artwork. It can't be said this was any different. Asher believes the most notable representation of his mother's dismay is through the crucifixion. He paints her vividly with no regard for the opposition there may be from the Jewish community. He brings the ultimate shame to his parents when he unveils a painting of his mother in a crucifixion during his art show in the New York Museum. His parents in a attendance, along with the people of the Ladover community, where stunned to see his painting. It was clear that Asher has crossed the line that would dare not be crossed in the Jewish faith as the crucifiction is often portrayed as the sign of Jesus Christ, whom the Jewish are said to be responsible for killing. All things considered, it was pretty much a slap in the face to his father's work in the Jewish community around the United States and Europe, and in the process denouncing both his religion's and parent's honor.