Chaim Potok(1929-2002)

Born in New York City but raised in Philadelphia, Chaim Potok ("Chaim Tzvi") was raised in a Hasidic family. His father immigrated from Poland in 1921 where he married and had two sons (both rabbis) and two daughters (both of whom married rabbis). Chaim balanced his interest in traditional Jewish studies, which pleased his father, with his personal interest in American and European literature. He also had an interest in painting.

Chaim rebelled from his Hasidic youth and following graduation from Yeshiva University where he received a BA in English, attended the Conservative Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he earned his Master's of Hebrew Literature and rabbinical ordination. In 1965 he earned his PhD in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chaim served as a Chaplain (lieutenant) in the US army in Korea from 1955-57. From 1965-74 he was Editor-in-chief, Jewish Publication Society of America, for which he continued to serve as special projects editor. Chaim was an accomplished author, playright, biographer, and theologian, who has won numerous literary awards for his written works. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and died at his home in Merion, in July, 2002.