Herman Harold Potok, better known as Chaim Potok, was a distinguished American author, novelist, playwright, editor, and rabbi. Born on February 17, 1929, Potok embarked on a prolific writing career that resulted in more than a dozen novels. His debut novel, The Chosen (1967), stood out as a masterpiece, securing its place on The New York Times’ bestseller list for 39 weeks and selling over 3,400,000 copies. It was later adapted into a well-received 1981 feature film of the same name.

Potok's journey into the world of literature began early. Raised in Buffalo, New York, by Polish immigrants, he received an Orthodox Jewish education. A pivotal moment in his life came as a teenager after reading Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, which inspired him to pursue a career in writing. He started writing fiction at the tender age of 16 and made his first submission to The Atlantic Monthly at 17. Although it was not published, he received a note of compliment from the editor, encouraging him further.

In 1949, while still in his early 20s, Potok's stories were published in the literary magazine of Yeshiva University, where he also contributed as an editor. He graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English Literature in 1950. After four years of study at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, he was ordained as a Conservative rabbi, further intertwining his faith with his passion for storytelling.