There's strength in numbers, right? For Hasidic Jews, community is everything: orthodox religious practices are highly unique and can be both isolating (especially since people outside the orthodox community don't tend to know about them) and empowering because they bond a group of otherwise fairly different people together. Asher's artistic talent singles him out in his community, forcing him into the spotlight and then into exile. This loss of community changes Asher's life permanently. At the same time, his inclusion in the artistic community proves both a boon and a very stressful burden to bear.
Questions About Community
- Imagine you are Asher Lev: how does it feel to be cast out of the Ladover Hasidic community? Is it devastating? Liberating? Both?
- How does the Ladover Hasidic community protect its members?
- Can you imagine a circumstance in which the Ladover Hasidic community could be considered isolating? Why or why not?
- Does being a member of a community still allow for the expression of individuality?
Chew on This
For Asher, the community in which he grows up both defines his art and prevents him from practicing it fully.
Asher Lev's story shows us that, in seeking to protect its members, the Ladover Hasidic community ends up squelching their individuality.