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Birth
Chaim Potok, born Herman Harold Potok, was the son of two Polish immigrants. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home. He attended a local Jewish primary school where he learned the Jewish culture, history and the Talmud. -
Brideshead Revisted
At the age of 16, Potok read the influential book Brideshead Revisted, by English novelist Evelyn Waugh. This was when Potok knew he wanted to be a writer. He was fascinated about this story that went surpassed the Jewish world he lived in. This novel included Catholics, which was frowned upon by his community. This was the beginning of his interest in the secular world. Also, Chaim took an interest in painting. His father and Talmudic teachers shut down this dream. -
College Graduation
Potok graduated with the highest honor in English literature. In the previous year some of his submissions were published in the Universities literary magazine -
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Jewish Theological Seminary of America
After his graduation, Potok studied for and recieved ordination as a rabbi in 1954 at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. This is significant because this New York institution was sponsored by the Conservative branch of Judaism, a less restrictive form of Judaism in terms of religious change. The Conservative movement suggest that change has always been a feature of Jewish tradition. Potok also earned a master's degree in Hebrew literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America -
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Korea
He served as a United States Army chaplain in Korea. -
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University of Judaism (campus of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America)
Upon his return from Korea, Potok was an instructor at the University of Judaism in California. This was the start of his teaching and publishing career. -
Marriage
While working as an instructor, Chaim Potok met his wife Adena Sara Mosevitzsky. Together they had three children. -
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Work Career
Chaim Potok worked as scholar-in-residence at Har Zion Temple in Philagelphia (59-63). He lived in Isreal for a year where he started his novel. He was promoted to the faculaty at the Teachers Institute, Jewish Theological Seminary of America (63-64). Potok moved to Brooklyn and served as a managing editor of Conservative Judaism (64-65). He was then editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society (65-74). Then earened a Ph.D in philosophy at the U-Penn. -
The Chosen
The Chosen published in 1967 was Potok's first published novel. The time period took placed during World War II and post years. Marjor themes of the novel included, religion vs. secular world, father-son relationships and tradition vs. modern. -
The Promise
The Promise was a continuation of The Chosen. The same theme's continued in this novel. The conflict of living in America and practicing a Jewish culture remained prevelant in most of his novels. -
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Jerusalem
Potok moved to Jerusalem with his family. -
Back to the US
He returned to Philadelphia with his family -
Death
Potok died in Merion, Penn at the age of 73 because of brain cancer. Potok is an extremely influential Jewish-American author. He wrote about issues that were not avaiable to the world before. He wrote about Jewish culture but with themes universal to all. His most acclaimed novel, The Chosen, won many prizes and was turned into a movie. Potok wrote short stories, novels and plays. He was also an artist. Most of his own experienes were the the inspiration behind his work.
