Obituaries Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.corn Chaim Potok, Author Of The Chosen New York/JTA — Chaim Potok was both a novelist who paved the way for a younger generation of religious American Jewish writers and a Jewish scholar who worked tirelessly to bring Jews and Judaism closer together. Mr. Potok, 73, who was raised in an Orthodox home but later became a Conservative rabbi, died of brain cancer July 23 at his suburban Philadelphia home. The best known of Mr. Potok's more than 15 works included The Chosen, which was made into a Hollywood movie starring Robby Benson, and My Name Is Asher Lev, which described the struggle of Orthodox Jews to maintain their faith in a secular world. "He is a major figure in the American Jewish liter- Chaim Potok ary canon," said Daniel Walden, a professor emer- itus of American studies, English and comparative literature at Penn State University "His essential mission was to explore the core-to-core cultural con- flicts of our civilization, and in doing so, he exposed what the Jewish experi- ence was like, what the Jewish religion was like." Some of Mr. Potok's interest in these "core conflicts" stemmed from his involvement during the Korean War, where he encountered Korean Buddhism as a U.S. Army chaplain — an experience he later fictionalized in The Hook of Lights. Indeed, he opened up the religious Jewish world as much to non Jews as to Jews. Years after The Chosen was pub- lished, Walden said Mr. Potok received letters and e-mails from nuns and priests, as well as Protestant clergy, thanking him for writing the book. Unlike earlier Jewish writers who were religious skeptics, such as Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth and Saul Bellow, Mr. Potok wrote from within the Jewish religious tradition, Walden said. As a result, Mr. Potok served as a model for the next generation of American Jewish writers — Allegra Goodman, Nathan Englander and Myra Goldberg — who also wrote about the religious experience. Mr. Potok's most famous book, The Chosen, focuses on the charactii of 7/26 2002 130 Danny Saunders, who is raised in a cha- sidic home in Brooklyn. Saunders' attraction to the more tolerant world of his friend Reuven Maher puts him at odds with his father, who wants him to remain within the chasidic world. The story was familiar to Mr. Potok. He spent a fervently Orthodox child- hood in New York, where he was born to parents who had emi- grated from Poland. .0 "My father, especially, • wanted me to be a profes- • sor of Talmud in a yeshiv- ah," Mr. Potok said in .an interview two years ago. While he never fulfilled his father's expectations, Mr. Potok did become a Judaic scholar. In 1965, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, writing his dissertation on the German Jewish philoso- pher Solomon Maimon, a contempo- rary of Immanuel Kant. The last year , of his doctorate was spent in Jerusalem, where he also wrote The Chosen. From 1966-1974, Mr. Potok was editor in chief of the Jewish Publication Society in Philadelphia. During his tenure, he launched JPS' series of Bible commentaries and emphasized the publication of chil- dren's literature. Though Mr. Potok found his home in Conservative Judaism, he spoke passionately about the Orthodox community, which he believed, had grown too narrow- minded. "The yeshivah is the foil I strike out with. Or the foil I strike out against," he once said. "Fundamentalism is an absolutely wrong reading of Jewish traditions." Mr. Potok also was a passionate lover of Israel, where he _lived for several years. Israel figured in his 1997 . book on the subject of Soviet Jews, The Gates of November. It focuses on the Slepak family, well-known refuseniks, who move to Israel after gaining their freedom. Mr. Potok is survived by his wife, Adena; two daughters, a son and two grandchildren. ❑ PAULINE (KRENTZIN) BECK- MAN, 91, formerly of West Bloomfield of providence, R.I., died July 22. She was a graduate of Northern high school and the Society of Arts and Crafts. Mrs. Beckman was a stenographer at Twentieth Century Fox in Detroit. As an artist, she did work in textiles, glass, sculpture and painting. Mrs. Beckman is survived by her husband, Irving Beckman; son, Ralph Beckman of Providence; brother, Earl Krentzin of Grosse Pointe; four grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Etta Tuber, Nathan and Louis Krentzin. Services were at Sugarman-Sinai Memorial Chapel in Providence. Interment at Swan Point Cemetery. GAIL BERGER, 82, former Detroiter of Austin, Texas, died July 12, 2002. She is survived by her beloved hus- band, Joseph Berger; son and daugh- ter-in-law, Dennis and Pam Berger of Austin; sister, Mae Schwartzberg of Lauderhill, Fla.; brother, Irving Fishman of West Bloomfield; grand- son, Miles. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Children's Regional Services, 3500 N. Causeway Blvd., #1120, Metairie, LA 70002-3599. EDWARD BERSON, 70, of Southfield, died July 17, 2002. He was a music and entertainment industry sales executive, an avid golfer and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Mr. Berson is sur- vived by his daughter and son-in-law, Romaney Berson and Donald Murray of New Jersey; son, Jory Berson of Virginia; grandchildren, Luke Edward Murray and Connor Berson Murray; sister, Adele Rutman of Florida; former wife, Judith Berson. Contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels through the National Council of Jewish Women. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LEONARD HENRY BIEMAN, 55, of Waterford, died July 18, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Bieman; mother, Mary Bieman of West Bloomfield, mother-in-law, Lillian Nissen; daughter and son-in- law, Lisa and Dr. Kevin Feber of Oak Park; brothers and sisters-in- law, James and Cindy Bieman of Fort Collins, Colo., Donald and Nellie Bieman of Cayey, Puerto Rico; granddaughter, Gabrielle Feber. Mr. Bieman was the loving son of the late Alfred Bieman; loving son-in-law of the late Maurice Rosen. Contributions may be made to Karmanos Cancer Institute, 24601 Northwestern, Southfield, MI 48075 or to a charity of one's choice. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. MICHAEL COREY, 80, of Waterford, died July 15, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Paula Corey; sons and daughters-in-law, David and Judith Corey of Mission Viejo, Calif., Bradley and Kim Corey of Clarkson; daughter and son-in- law, Debra and Alex Wasserman of Oceanside, Calif.; grandchildren, Lisa Wasserman, Susan Wasserman, Jordan Corey, Jared Corey, Jacob Corey. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan, 16250 Northland-Drive, Suite 212, Southfield, MI 48075 or Michigan Cancer Foundation, 18831 W. 12 Mile Road, Lathrup Village, MI 48076. Services and interment at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. PAUL CUTTNER, 92, of East Lansing, died July 14, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Veronica Cuttner; nieces and nephews, Aylene and John Kovensky-Gard, David and Candy Cuttner; great-nieces and great- nephews, Wendy and Philip Arnold, Sara and Brian Kalt, Seth and Sarah Kovensky, Ibrah Kovensky. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Services and interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. NORMAN DAVIDSON, 89, of Southfield, died July 20, 2002. A graduate of the University of Detroit, he went on to become a cost accountant during the war, then pur - sued a career in real estate. After retiring, he opened a retail-clothing store with his daughter. He was also a charter member of the Mezeritcher Society for over 60 years.