Introduction to Chaim Potok, The Chosen

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Introduction to Chaim Potok, The Chosen

• Born February 17, 1929 in New York City, N.Y.
• Parents Benjamin Max (d. 1958) and Mollie
  (Friedman) Potok (d.1985).
• Father immigrated from Poland to the U.S. in 1921
  and sold stationary before the depression and was
  a jeweler afterword.
• Wife Adena Sara Mosevitzsky, married June 8,
  1958. The Potok's met at Camp Ramah (Poconos) in
  1952. Adena is a psychiatric social worker.
• Children Rena, Naama, Akiva.
• Siblings Brother became a rabbi, both sisters
  married rabbis.
• CHILDHOOD
• "I grew up. . .in a Hassidic world without the
  beard and the earlocks." (NY Times 1/3/88)
• Potok started writing fiction at the age of 16.
  His first submission was to the Atlantic Monthly
  at the age of 17 (the piece was not published,
  but Potok received a complimentary note from an
  editor asking if he was writing a novel).

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• The Chosen, 1967
• The Promise, 1969
• My Name is Asher Lev, 1972
• In the Beginning, 1975
• The Book of Lights, 1981
• Davita's Harp, 1985
• The Gift of Asher Lev, 1990
• I Am the Clay, 1992

• EDUCATION
• Talmudic Academy of Yeshiva College (University).
  
• Yeshiva University (B.A., summa cum laude, in
  English Literature, 1950).
• Jewish Theological Seminary of America (M.H.L.
  and rabbinic ordination, 1954).
• University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D. in philosophy,
  1965). RESIDENCE
• Merion, PA, U.S.A.

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Links for more info

• http//www.lasierra.edu/ballen/potok/Potok.menu.h
  tml