Character Analysis
Uncle Yitzchok is the kind of embarrassing uncle you cringe at but still love to have around. He is Aryeh's brother, and he owns a highly successful diamond business in Brooklyn. He is also one of the first people to recognize Asher's artistic talent. When Rivkeh joins Aryeh in Vienna, Asher moves in with Uncle Yitzchok and his family; Uncle Yitzchok even goes so far as to turn the attic of his house into an art studio for Asher. While Asher sometimes dismisses his Uncle as shallow and rich, he is eternally grateful to him for his support of his artistic gifts:
He took a coin from his pocket and showed it to me. He picked up one of the drawings and put the coin in its place. 'Now I own an early Lev,' he said, with a smile. (32.2)
Uncle Yitzchok ends up being a real source of love and support for Asher, especially after Aryeh and Rivkeh move to Europe, leaving Asher behind in Brooklyn. Without Uncle Yitzchok believing in him, Asher may not have had the courage to continue drawing in his early years, and then we wouldn't have this awesome book to read.
Uncle Yitzchok's Timeline