Culture
Is Harry Potter Jewish?
By Jeremy Last, EJP
Published: 10.04.05, 11:39
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19 Talkbacks for this article
1. Naarishkeit knows no bounds
(04.10.05)
2. this article
lalal ,   uk   (04.10.05)
no thats not trying to brainwash kids in judiasm :/
3. harry potter jewish? oye be-emet! (oh really!)
alice ,   wonderland   (04.10.05)
hallo! caring about how others are feeling, being kind and defending one's beliefs are human traits ... mapetom! (what suddenly!) these are traits exclusive to jews? this is yet another example of why other nations get annoyed with us! the boy was created by a nice non-Jewish lady, that is he has a non-Jewish mother therefore.....he's just another fellow traveler!
4. It's the Muslims trying to brainwash everybody!
Daisy ,   USA   (04.10.05)
5. Harry Potter and the Gantzeh Megillah
Chazzan Amy Miller ,   USA   (04.11.05)
This will be my third presentation concerning a Jewish perspective of Harry Potter; the first was in the USA and the second in Canada. Mostly, my observations are light-hearted and certainly should not be taken too seriously. However, in the USA there has been much controversy about Harry's story; I thought I'd add my 2 zuzim. A zissen pesach!
6. who cares if he's Jewish or not?
dana levi ,   tel aviv   (04.11.05)
why in the world would it make any difference at all?
7. Potter vs. Religion
Mallory ,   NZ   (04.11.05)
I love some of the comparisons people make when it comes to Harry Potter. It certainly gets people thinking about more than just what is handed to them. On that note however, when it comes to religion I think JKR has specifically avoided declaring Harry of a particular faith. This leaves the story open for these sorts of comparisons and allows people to identify better with Harry by imagining him as having that one more thing in common with the individual reader.
8. what are you saying about muslims?
nazifa ,   new york city , usa   (04.11.05)
dont talk about muslims that way dont talk abotu bull that every one talks abotu but you dont no what it really means ppl are just trying to frame them so just stop unless ur raceist
9. Exclusively for Jewish People
S ,   Tel aviv   (04.12.05)
I did not know that caring, being kind, and he defending your beliefs were behaviours reserved exclusively for Jewish People
10. hooooo peleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!!!!
Sarit ,   Israel Tel - Aviv   (04.12.05)
11. as a jew...
sheep sheepy ,   binyamina, israel   (04.12.05)
...i am forced to wonder why anyone would care. harry potter is a book. record-breaking sales, good for all ages - whatever, it's not the bible of any religion (or at least, i hope not). why make such a fuss? and anyone's amazing ability to spot jews could be better employed at our border...
12. I have a couple of opinions on this issue
Yossi ,   Chashmonaim, Israel   (04.13.05)
I have a couple of things to say about Harry being Jewish: 1) How could he be Jewish ( I am Jewish too, a religious one, that is!) if he is a wizard? It is forbidden for us, Jews, to be witches / wizards. See Exodus, chapter 22, verse 17. 2) As mentioned above, I don't think that being kind and defending your beliefs makes you Jewish. On the other, Jews are quite known to defend their religion and own beliefs... 3) Whatever, this is actually quite cute, and I wish Amy Miller success, and I wish everyone: Pesach kasher, ve Same'ach! (Have a kosher and happy Passover)
13. Hermione Granger is Jewish...
BruceB ,   New Jersey, USA   (04.15.05)
When our family read the first book, we noticed that during Christmas, Hermione is asked "[w]hen does your holiday begin?" [!] This began a longstanding rumor that Hermione Granger was Jewish...however, we were not aware that in British terminology, 'holiday' can mean 'vacation'...oh well!
14. Harry Potter Jewish
Nikki Lucero ,   Bellflower,CA   (04.25.05)
You might find connections with Harry Potter to Jewish ideas, but there are a lot of other connections also. ShapeShifters for an example are Native American beleifs as well. The House Elves being used as "SLAVES"... BUT Happy Potter is not American Indian or Black... I am pro anything that is written in a positive light FOR Harry Potter and the series. I find a lot of personal connections also but Harry Potter is not a Depressed, 45 year old woman either! Thank You, Nikki Lucero IF he were, he would have had a Bar Mitzvah already... Every child born of a Jewish mother or converted reaches maturity at the age of 12 for a girl and the age of 13 for a boy. At this occasion, the girl is known as a bat mitzvah and the boy as a bar mitzvah. The term refers to their new status as being subject to the privileges and obligations of fulfilling G-d’s commandments as prescribed in the Torah and as interpreted by Moses, the Prophets, the Sages and even the Rabbis, even in our generation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not to mention that Lily, Evans,James and Potter are not traditional Jewish names.
15. The HP phenomenon
Sandra Pilowsky ,   Sydney, Australia   (07.10.05)
There's no doubt that the Harry Potter phenomenon is extraordinary. I'm not talking about the quality of the literature, which is not really great, but about the hype and popularity surrounding the book. Col ha-kavod to Rowling for getting kids - and adults - to read they way they are doing. But the books need serious looking into. Think about it: 27 million (I believe that's the figure) have now been printed; the advertising is superb; there's a whole industry constructed around HP; queues to buy the book start weeks before release; sales are massive - then, the next day - the books are being discounted. What's it all about? Capitalism? Fascism? (not without a possibility - already being discussed on the WWW.) The phenomenon certainly needs to be explored - more from the sociological than the literary point of view. But let's go for Harry Potter and the Jewish Question. Why not? Isn't that our function, as Jews?
16. Hermione Granger is a Jew
Yossi ,   Israel   (04.24.06)
Besides Hagrid asking Hermione about "her holiday", Hermione is the daughter of dentists (stereotypic Jewish profession). The go skiing over xmas instead of staying home visiting with relatives. Hermione is involved in "social justice" for house elves (many Jews are involved in such social causes for the discriminated against). Hermione is also very successful at academics - like many Jews. She's also the object of discrimination, being called "mudblood" as Jews are in many societies. Has J.K Rowling ever discussed this?
17. Why only Jewish?
HP fan ,   London, UK   (04.27.06)
There seems to be a slight suggestion that non-Jews do not share or exhibit the compassionate values that the Harry Potter books extol. Considering JK Rowling herself wrote the books, and isn't Jewish, the debate is somewhat redundant.
18. Useless Discussion - Harry's values are UNIVERSAL
Victor Rothschild ,   New York, USA   (04.09.07)
Harry Potter's beliefs, values, and characteristics are meant to portray universal values, not only Jewish values, as some would arrogantly claim. Does his heroic actions only exemplify the actions of Jews? Is his status and past persecution a representation of the Jewish people? People of all cultures find joy in his exploits because all of us who appreciate Rowling's book can relate to him - not just Jews! Therefore, why does it matter if he espouses Jewish values? Is it to empower the Jewish people in a psychological way in that a mainstream sensation represents Judaism? No! Harry is here to empower every one of his fans - for them to realize that it is possible to face oppression and overcome hardships - despite their religion, creed, race, etc. Bringing him to represent only one of many groups when he does not undermines the others and fundamentally creates racism, nationalism, or emphasize the superiority of one religion or group over all others.
19. Comments
Victor Rothschild ,   New York, USA   (04.09.07)
Are the values you mention solely Jewish in nature? I am Jewish, but my non-Jewish friends also espouse those values, in addition to other human values. Therefore, those are universal values rooted in human nature, and do not solely apply to Jews.
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