Asher is in a meeting with the mashpia, the Rebbe and other people. Together the people decide what Asher is going to do with his life. What he is going to do instead of going to school. They decide to have Asher work with a man called Jacob Kahn. He is a famous artist. Kahn, was a Hasidic Jew who dropped all of Jewish religion to focus on drawing and painting and becoming an artist. Jacob is to help Asher become a better artist. Kahn is to teach Asher how to draw better and learn and study art.

Mr. Kahn asks Asher to study the museum and the painting Guernica, by Picasso. "You will study this painting called the Guernica, by Picasso. You will memorize this painting You will do whatever you feel you have to do in order to master this painting. Then you will call me in March, and we will meet, and talk and work."(186)

I was very surprised to see that Asher's parents were letting him go into the world of the goyim and learn about painting instead of learning the torah. I did not understand how the Rebbe would let Asher do such a thing. Even though he does not want to study torah, but the torah is in Asher's blood. I am shocked that Asher does not have to follow in his father's foot steps. I don't understand how the Rebbe could choose what Asher was to become and do. I just don't understand how Asher's parents could have no reaction to what was happening to their son and no say in the future of his artistic abilities. "It's the Rebbe's decision. Only because everyone is afraid the boy will bread and go his won way. Why should everyone be afraid the boy will break away? Why? He is my son. I wan to raise my son in my own way. I am not reconciled. I will spend my life traveling for the Rebbe, and my son will spend his life painting pictures. How can I reconcile myself to this?"(187)

Asher's father carried the burden and the pain through Asher's bar mitzvah and no one dared to question the Rebbe's decision for Asher to study art.