The Chosen, a novel published in 1967, remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for 39 weeks and sold over 3.4 million copies by 2002. Authored by Chaim Potok, the book served as the breakthrough for a writer who balanced a life as a Conservative rabbi with a prolific career in fiction, translation, and playwriting.
Early Education and Influences
Born in the Bronx in 1929, Herman Harold Potok was the eldest of four children to Polish immigrants Benjamin Max and Mollie Potok. He received an Orthodox Jewish education at the Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy, Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy, and Yeshiva University. Influenced by Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, he began writing fiction at 16. By 1950, he graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English Literature from Yeshiva University.
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After being ordained as a Conservative rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Potok served as an army chaplain in South Korea from 1955 to 1957. He later identified this period as a transformative experience that altered his perception of his own place in the world. Following his service, he pursued graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, eventually earning a doctorate in philosophy.
Literary Career and Themes
Potok’s writing often explored the tension between traditional Judaism and the secular world. His novels, including My Name is Asher Lev and In the Beginning, examined the struggles of individuals navigating religious identity and creative ambition. His 1981 novel The Book of Lights drew directly from his experiences as a chaplain in Korea. Beyond his prose, he worked as an editor for the Jewish Publication Society and translated the Hebrew Bible.
Adaptations and Later Work
The Chosen was adapted into a 1981 feature film featuring actors Rod Steiger and Maximilian Schell, and later developed into a stage play by Aaron Posner in collaboration with Potok. His later bibliography included children's books such as The Tree of Here and The Sky of Now, both illustrated by Tony Auth. He continued writing until the publication of Old Men at Midnight in 2001.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, The Bronx
- Died: 2002, Merion Station
- Education: Yeshiva University, University of Pennsylvania
- Notable Work: The Chosen
- Awards: Edward Lewis Wallant Award (1967), Athenaeum Literary Award (1969)
- Spouse: Adena Sara Mosevitzsky
- Religion: Judaism
Questions readers ask
What inspired Chaim Potok to become a writer?
He frequently cited Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited as the primary inspiration for his creative work.
Did Potok draw from his military service in his writing?
Yes, he explicitly stated that his time as a chaplain in South Korea served as the basis for his 1981 novel The Book of Lights.
Achievements
- Notable work: The Chosen
- Educated at University of Pennsylvania, Yeshiva University and Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy
- Worked as playwright, rabbi and translator