It’s official. Astute readers of the Harry Potter series have long suspected Harry’s friend and ally Anthony Goldstein might be Jewish (living at Hogwarts with a kosher meal plan). Now author JK Rowling has confirmed the matter, tweeting a Jewish fan who enquired if there were any Jews in the books: “Anthony Goldstein. Ravenclaw. Jewish wizard.” The next day Ms. Rowling enigmatically suggested the possibility of a minyan at Hogwarts: “Anthony isn’t the first Jewish student, nor is he the only one. I just have reasons for knowing most about him!”
Although Anthony is currently the only publicly known Jewish wizard at Hogwarts, the major characters in Harry Potter often reflect core Jewish values. Here are five ways in which the characters and plot of the series echoes some key Jewish teachings.
Read Full Article »