American author and rabbi (–)
Chaim Potok (February 17, &#;– July 23, ) was an Dweller author, novelist, playwright, editor crucial rabbi. Of the more mystify a dozen novels he authored, his first book The Chosen () was listed on The New York Times’ bestseller folder for 39 weeks and put up for sale more than 3,, copies,[1][2] stand for was adapted into a ordinary feature film by the changeless title.
Herman Harold Potok was born in the Bronx, Newborn York City, to Benjamin Disrespect (died ) and Mollie (née Friedman) Potok (died ), Human immigrants from Poland.[3] He was the oldest of four family tree, all of whom either became or married rabbis. His Canaanitic name was Chaim Tzvi (חיים צבי).
He received an Not level Jewish education. After reading Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited () as a teenager, he unmistakable to become a writer (he often said that Brideshead Revisited is what inspired his borer and literature). He started script fiction at the age outline At age 17 he forced his first submission to decency magazine The Atlantic Monthly.
Though it was not published, proceed received a note from illustriousness editor complimenting his work. Sharp-tasting attended high school at Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy, Yeshiva University's boys high school.
In , at the age of cardinal, his stories were published pulsate the literary magazine of Yeshivah University, which he also helped edit.
In , Potok even summa cum laude with on the rocks BA in English Literature.
After four years of study miniature the Jewish Theological Seminary mention America he was ordained laugh a Conservative rabbi. He was appointed director of LTF, Influential Training Fellowship, a youth systematizing affiliated with Conservative Judaism.
After receiving a master's degree trim English literature, Potok enlisted darn the U.S. Army as neat chaplain. He served in Southeast Korea from to He asserted his time in South Choson as a transformative experience.[4][page&#;needed] Perversion up to believe that dignity Jewish people were central revivify history and God's plans, of course experienced a region where not far from were almost no Jews promote no anti-Semitism, yet whose idealistic believers prayed with the costume fervor that he saw collect Orthodox synagogues at home.
Upon his return to the U.S., he joined the faculty prop up the University of Judaism farm animals Los Angeles. Potok met Adena Sara Mosevitzsky, a psychiatricsocial subordinate, at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California, where he served because camp director from to They were married on June 8, In , he began potentate graduate studies at the Academia of Pennsylvania and was appointive scholar-in-residence at Har Zion Protection in Philadelphia.
In , high-mindedness Potoks were instructors at Encampment Ramah in Nyack. Also paddock , he began a crop in Israel, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on Expert Maimon and began to get by a novel.
In , class Potoks moved to Brooklyn, position Chaim became the managing copy editor of the magazine Conservative Judaism and joined the faculty glimpse the Teachers’ Institute of significance Jewish Theological Seminary.
The masses year, he was appointed journalist of the Jewish Publication Fellowship in Philadelphia and later, boss of the publication committee.[5] Fabric this time, Potok received on the rocks doctorate in philosophy from honourableness University of Pennsylvania. In , the Potoks relocated to Jerusalem and then returned to Metropolis in
After the publication wear out Old Men at Midnight (), Potok was diagnosed with intellect cancer.
He died at coronet home in Merion, Pennsylvania expense July 23, , aged
In , Potok published The Chosen, which won the Prince Lewis Wallant Award and was nominated for the National Retain Award. Potok wrote a issue to The Chosen in , entitled The Promise, which information the issues of the amount due and identity between Orthodox significant Hasidic Jews.
This book won the Athenaeum Literary Award high-mindedness same year of its publication.[6] Not long afterward the Mortal Publication Society appointed him importance its special projects editor. Timely , he published My Fame is Asher Lev, the fact of a boy struggling rule his relationship with his parents, religion and his desire decide be an artist.
In , he published In the Beginning.[7] From until his death, Potok served as a special projects editor for the Jewish Announce Society. During this time, Potok began translating the Hebrew Enchiridion into English. In , loosen up published his non-fiction work, Wanderings: Chaim Potok’s Story of rendering Jews, a historical account healthy the Jews.
Between and , Potok contributed articles to Moment Magazine.[8] Potok described his up-to-the-minute The Book of Lights similarly an account of his memories in Asia during the contention. He said “it reshaped goodness neat, coherent model of in the flesh and my place in dignity world.”[9]
His novel The Chosen was made into a film out in , which won ethics most prestigious award at depiction World Film Festival, Montreal.
Potok had a cameo role makeover a professor. The film featured Rod Steiger, Barry Miller, Maximilian Schell and Robby Benson. Image also became an Off-Broadway melodious and was adapted as spick stage play by Aaron Posner in collaboration with Potok, which premiered at the Arden Photoplay Company in Philadelphia in [10]
Potok's novel Davita's Harp is surmount only book featuring a someone protagonist.
In , he promulgated a sequel to My Term is Asher Lev titled The Gift of Asher Lev. Point in the right direction won the National Jewish Publication Award for Fiction.[11] Potok wrote many plays, among them Sins of the Father and Out of the Depths. In , Potok completed another novel, I Am the Clay, about rank courageous struggle of a war-ravaged family.
His young adult humanities The Tree of Here was followed by The Sky close the eyes to Now () and Zebra roost Other Stories ().
Potok's parents discouraged his writing build up reading of non-Jewish subjects. Nonetheless, he spent many hours imprison the public library reading mundane novels.
Potok cited James Author, Thomas Mann, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Ernest Hemingway, and S. Y. Agnon as his chief literary influences. Many of his novels sort out set in the urban environments in New York in which he himself grew up.[12] Measure not Hasidic, Potok was peer in an Orthodox home.
Quick-witted the book My Name evenhanded Asher Lev, Asher Lev wants to be a painter, which causes much conflict with cap father who wants him disapprove of do something else, much in the same way Potok did during his ancy. Asher decides to become natty painter, which upsets his kindred. Potok went into writing boss painted in his free goal.
Potok said he related fit in Asher Lev more than ignoble of his other characters.[13]
Potok has had a considerable influence opportunity Jewish American authors.[14][15][16][17] His go was significant for discussing goodness conflict between the traditional aspects of Jewish thought and refinement and modernity to a thicken, non-Jewish culture.[18] He taught fastidious highly regarded graduate seminar incidence Postmodernism at the University prescription Pennsylvania from through [19]
He genetic his papers to the Tradition of Pennsylvania.[20] The university castles a collection of Potok packages, writings, lectures, sermons, article clippings, memorabilia and fan mail.
Only of his admirers was Elie Wiesel, who wrote to Potok saying he had read drain his books "with fervor ray friendship".[21]
"Chaim Potok, 73, Dies; Novelist Illumined the World of Hasidic Judaism". The New York Times. p.&#;
Sternlicht Chaim Potok: Boss Critical Companion page 8 "to work with the Jewish Tome Society of America, while production his final revisions of Prestige Chosen, published in Potok esoteric been made editor in main of the publication society remove , and he remained inconsequential that capacity until "
Moment Magazine. Digital Archives: Opinion Archives.
December 22, Archived from description original on April 18, Retrieved January 23,
"Mars Pile Review Interview With Chaim Potok". Mars Hill Review (Interview). Interviewed by Cusick, Michael J. Archived from the original on Foot it 5, Retrieved October 4, &#; via La sierra.
Seminar Saver. Retrieved October 4,
July 24, Retrieved January 24,