My Name is Asher Lev Religion Quotes

This quote states the major paradox of the book: Asher Lev is an observant Jew who's nevertheless drawn to doing things observant Jews aren't typically drawn to doing. This generates some major tensions, including a book-long indentity crisis for Asher.

Aryeh Lev is incredibly religious. One could argue that it's his most defining characteristic. Here we see that religiosity in action, as well as what a profound influence it was on Asher as a child.

Every night of his childhood, Asher says the Krias Shema, which is a nighttime prayer in Hebrew commonly said by very devout Jews. This shows what a significant presence religion is in Asher's life as he's growing up. The prayer is more than likely engrained in his memory forever.

Here Aryeh is trying to get Rivkeh to snap out of her grief spiral after her brother is killed. Often in My Name Is Asher Lev, an action is dismissed as wrong or false because it is forbidden by the Torah, the religious text central to the Jewish religion.

The sitra achra is commonly mentioned in this book—it's the source of all evil for Jews, something to be feared and avoided. It's a sizzling hot topic of debate whether or not Asher's gift comes from the Ribbono Shel Olom (God) or from the sitra achra. Blessed child prodigy or spawn of the devil? You make the call.

This service is held after Stalin dies, and the fervor and joy in the room is very palpable. This quote communicates what a powerful bonding agent religion can be, as well as the passion of Asher's particular congregation.

Asher prays to God that he will be spared from moving to Vienna with his parents. This quote shows us both the desperation of his prayer and his belief in the power of the Jewish god to effect major changes in the universe. And guess what? His prayer is (somewhat) answered: His father travels to Vienna, but Asher doesn't have to.

Asher's father acknowledges his gift, but worries that it might violate the religious principles of the Hasidic community. This is a very real concern for him—for the Hasidic Jew, religion always comes first. Other stuff like family and your child's talents come second. Sometimes even third.

The Rabbi wants Asher to remember his religious roots, even as he's skyrocketing to fame as a prodigy painter. The assumption here is that painting can be taught, but you are born with religious conviction, and it's up to you whether or not you want to carry that religious conviction into your adult life. Heavy stuff. What about natural-born talent? That's pretty similar to being born into a religion, right? We know for sure the Rabbi probably disagrees with us, but what do you think?

Asher has this conversation with his mother because he has reached marriageable age (18 or older) and she wants him to marry a Hasidic girl from another Ladover family. Asher laughs at her because he has rejected his religion and has enough clout as a painter to back his rejection up. Still, rejecting your own mother and background is painful and kind of torturous, as the end of the book demonstrates.