Asher lev
... Throughout the book, My Name Is Asher Lev, the author Chaim Potok puts the main character Asher Lev, in conflict with both himself and the community. ... Asher was caught between following his father’s rules and religion, and his true gift in life, painting. Asher’s gift of painting caused him to turn on his religion, his family, and his friends, to allow himself to become an individual and break away from the community. Asher was born into a Jewish family, with strict beliefs in the Hasidic tradition. ... Asher’s father was a prime example of this because he did not do what he wanted to do; instead he listened to what the Rebbe told him to do. ... This proved to be one of the biggest reasons that Asher’s gift was challenged, and not supported by his father and his religious community. From the start, Asher’s father made it very clear that he did not want Asher to have painting as a hobby, let alone a career. At a very young age, his father lets him know what he thinks about his painting when he says, “You have nothing better to do with your time Asher? ... This comment showed that his father did not want Asher to be wasting his time painting instead of learning the religion and following in his footsteps. ... This is the starting point where Asher’s gift comes in conflict with what the beliefs of his community are, because the religion that has been taught to him all of his life is saying that painting is Goyim. This is when Asher stops painting for a time period because he believes he is going against his religion and hurting his community by doing such a thing. Since Asher was really never into following the religion as close as his father did, it forces Asher to decide what is the best way for him to individuate himself. ... Asher begins realizing that the Hasidic tradition wasn’t the religion for him, because he knew that he was different than all the other people. Asher realizes this, and starts his journey towards individuality when he breaks away from society, and only focuses in on art.