J.K. Rowling comments on Jewish faith of one of Harry Potter's classmates
 

Something long-argued among Harry Potter fans has been the religions of characters in the series, and J.K. Rowling, appropriately on the first evening of Hanukkah this year on Tuesday evening, revealed that one of Harry's classmates was indeed Jewish.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/benjaminroffman">@benjaminroffman</a> Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw, Jewish wizard.</p>&mdash; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/544946669448867841">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyHanukkah?src=hash">#HappyHanukkah</a> everyone - festival of lights! We hope you have a wonderful, peaceful celebration <a href="http://t.co/tSfBrwFtYp">pic.twitter.com/tSfBrwFtYp</a></p>&mdash; Lumos (@lumos) <a href="https://twitter.com/lumos/status/544896995945889793">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Rowling generally kept religion away from the Harry Potter series for the most part, though noted a few Christian-faith related bits, such as the fact that Harry was Christened as a baby (with his parents and godfather Sirius in attendance), and that she saw Harry's return in Deathly Hallows as a Jesus Christ-like figure (which of course can be debated by fans).

I think it's great that Rowling is telling us this. It is after all realistic that religion would still be practiced by people with magic blood just the same as with muggles.

How appropriate. :loved:

Yesh, yesh! I agree with this ^_^

I agree too! I love how she's casually revealing things that make sense to the fans. ^_^

Oh how I love J.K Rowling for this :loved:

I don't care what people say about her, she's will always be my favorite author and it's because of things like this!

I love it and I hate it at differing times. This is one time that I love it. As I read Harry Potter as an adult it was something that I picked up on from various little things like the Fat Friar, decorations and heinously designed Christmas sweaters. But it's also there if she's basing the muggle world of Harry Potter off of our own world and you know the approximate dates that different religions gained popularity and where they did so.

I'm just glad to hear her say it in no unclear terms that there is religious diversity within the Wizarding World. And on a selfish note, I'm glad she said it because I made a character back in 2009 who is a Jewish wizard. Yus! Confirmation. XD