Asher LevThis story is about a Jewish boy from Brooklyn, whose talent is painting. He presents himself as a young man struggling with an internal conflict between his religious upbringing and his extraordinary God-given gift that cannot be controlled and seems to possess a spirit of his own. He can't explain why he feels he has to paint, and he doesn't like the fact that he hurts everyone he loves and insults everything he believes in, but he continues on his path that seems to have been chosen for him. Throughout the book we see conflicts between Asher and his family and grow a hatred towards his father, even though he is a good man and well respected in the community. As a boy, Asher is told by his father that he seems to think his artistic ability is madness and that he needs to focus his attention on his school work. We tend to like his mother, Rivkeh, because even though she says she doesn't want Asher to paint, we know that deep down she knows that art is his heart, and it's the only thing that makes him happy. We can relate to her as she stands by the window worrying and wondering when her loved ones will come home. Asher doesn't get much encouragement from other people until he meets the famous Jacob Kahn, who becomes his inspiration, his teacher, and his connection to the great work of art. The two meet in the Rebbe's office. This meeting was not accidental. It was founded by the Rebbe, who Asher was not very fond of because he sends his father to Vienna. The Rebbe understands Asher better than his parents. He knows Asher has this talent and wants him to sew it. When Asher's father goes to Vienna, his mother stays in Brooklyn with him in hopes that he will study hard. He studies enough to get by, but still manages to bring everything he sees to life. Jacob Kohn teaches Asher how to become a great painter, warning him what he's getting himself into. When Asher becomes Asher Lev the painter, instead of Reb Aryeh Lev's son, his father becomes curious and wants to go to one of his shows. Aryeh wants to see some of his work but refuses to go if there are nude paintings.