Chaim Potok, the author of âThe Chosen,â âThe Gift of Asher Lev,âDavidaâs Heart,â and many other novels, chronicled the life of a Russian Jewish family in the non-fictions story, âThe Gates of November.â This true story of the Slapeck family, Solomon Slapek, his son Valodya, and daughter-in-law Masha, spans 100 years. Beginning with Solomonâs childhood at turn of the 20th century, his escape to America and return to Russia, it eventually describes Valodya and Mashaâs life after they apply for an exit visa to leave Russia in 1968, in order to emigrate to Israel. Chaim Potok died July 23, 2002, at his suburban Philadelphia home of brain cancer at the age of 73.
The book Chaim Potok recommends is âThe English Patient,â by Michael Ondaatje.
This program was Originally Broadcast: January 8, 1997
Barry Vogel, Esq. is the host and producer. Ignacio Ayala is the assistant producer.
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