Why I Love Harry Potter

( Prologue: There will be NO spoilers about book seven in this sermon!)

I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I counted the days before the book releases, and made sure books were delivered to our house on release date. We not only have all the books, we have multiple copies of each book, in case one gets ruined or worn out. When I work at home, on the shelf above my desk sits an action figure of my favorite character, Ron Weasley.

It is hard for me to realize that Harry has been part of our lives for a full decade: children who first picked up book one in grade school are now in college or beyond. This reality struck me a few weeks ago, while I was serving as faculty at Greene Family Camp. I was invited to offer the D'var Torah at the weekly staff meeting. That meeting proved to be one not to miss - as a major topic of discussion was the coming delivery, the next day of 137 copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. To drive that point home, that's approximately 20% of everyone living at camp. At first the discussion focused on appropriate delivery of the books to the campers, since owl delivery was not an option. Then a counselor stood up, quite upset, and asked about how and when she would get her copy! Quickly, with a nod of heads and many furrowed brows, it became clear that almost half of the books being delivered were going not to campers-- but to staff!

Those of us who love Harry have engaged in heated discussions defending our favorite character, or analyzing a plot line. Children whose parents couldn't get them to read a book devoured them, and have since become avid readers. The “HP effect” is truly a literary phenomenon!

For years I've wanted to write a sermon about Harry Potter. I wanted to talk about the fact that it got us reading again. . . that it encouraged such fabulous creativity . . . about how much I loved watching children of all ages lost in the pages, not hearing anything but the voices that have lept off the page and become real in their heads. The sigh, as the last page was finished, and the deep blinks as they struggled to come back to the muggle world.

All of these were topics I've chased around in my head with broomsticks and golden snitches. With so much fodder to choose from-thousands of pages of magic and action-- I came to focus on this question: As a Rabbi, what draws me to Harry Potter?

I believe that Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have uniquely Jewish qualities to them that highlight some of what I think are truly Jewish characteristics.

Luckily, Charlie and I have a fantastic relationship. Or he would be quite jealous of my crush on Ron Weasley. I think his awkward boyishness is charming, and his natural goodness compelling.

Ron represents, to me, a very special part of the Harry Potter series: the importance of friendship. I was once taught: who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure. Ron is a faithful friend, and therefore a treasure to Harry. When it would have been easier to become friends with others-certainly anyone else would have had less baggage than Harry Potter-- Ron doesn't do so. Harry is his “mate,” and Ron does his best to be loyal. As the hero's sidekick, Ron is often forced to play second fiddle to Harry's fame and Hermione's brain. And at times, it does bother him. But what I love about Ron is his loyalty: he always comes back. And in the few moments that he shines-with his wicked sense of humor, or in his chess skills-he is infectious.

Ron is non-judgmental. He's the best friend one could have: it doesn't seem to occur to him not to accept those around him. Even when annoyed-at Hermione's ability to finish homework assignments on time, or Dobby the house-elf's annoying prattling, Ron Weasley is quite simply always there when you need him. For a boy like Harry, Ron represents positive stability-the first he's had in his life. A friend who will make him laugh, who will happily get in trouble with him, and support him when he's down. I do believe that Ron's friendship grounds Harry in a way that allows him to face his destiny.

J.K. Rowlings' message is clear: it's the true friendships that count. It's loyalty and laughter, goodness and caring, creativity and vision that are important, not popularity, money or lineage. Ron, to me, is symbolic for how one should choose friends. Think about Harry's inner circle: Ron is poor, and basically, an average wizard. Luna Lovegood is an out-and-out kook, while Neville Longbottom seems an awkward and nerdy student. Hermione is muggle-born, and a know-it-all. All told, not what one would expect for the inner circle of a wizarding legend. As Hagrid said to Ron in book six: “When I first met yeh, yeh all were the biggest bunch of misfits I've ever seen,” to which Ron replies: “We still are.”

We all know the famous line from Leviticus: "Love your fellow as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), The famous Rabbi Hillel teaches: "Do not do to others what is hateful to oneself" (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31a). This Jewish "Golden Rule" reminds us that we must put ourselves in the place of other people and refrain from actions that would be harmful, hurtful, or embarrassing to them. Instinctively, we all seek our own safety, wellbeing, and happiness. However, we are charged to transcend ourselves by acknowledging and pursuing these things for others as well. This is what Ron is for Harry, and in turn, Harry learns to be the same from him. Ecclesaistes wrote, "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up" (4:9-10). Without Ron, I do not believe Harry would have been successful. There are a few scenes in book seven-don't worry, just a teaser-that prove how much Harry needs Ron. And the relationship goes both ways: without Harry, Ron may not have realized the depth of his potential, and may have settled for being the recipient of hand-me-downs and used books, as the fifth son. Instead, he learns to value himself and see himself as a unique individual.

The trio of Ron, Hermione and Harry was stunningly successful, often, because of Hermione Granger's incredible brain. Her quick thinking, excellent wandwork--think “wingardium leviosa”-- and her problem solving skills get them out of some pretty scary scrapes. Ron summarizes it fairly well, in the Chamber of Secrets, when Hermione goes to the library to investigate her theory about the attacks happening in the school: Because that's what Hermione does" said Ron, shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library."

When Hermione was first introduced, I was annoyed that the female protagonist was, well, so annoying. A sure teacher's pet, her homework was always perfect and she was always done early. Her hand is first up in the air, and her quill is the last down during an exam. At the same time she was not one who learned blindly. She questioned what she was taught, and at times even pushed the boundaries of the wizarding world. And, as we know, she was extremely creative and able to solve problems in unusual ways-think about her ability to use Polyjuice potion! Even as she was creative, Hermione had great veneration for the traditions, cultures and mores of wizarding life.

You know it occurrs to me that Hermione, had she lived only in the muggle world, and was Jewish, would have become a great rabbi. Like the ancient rabbis, she was an avid student and willing disciple, a sponge, gathering all she could from worthy professors, and even important information from less than admirable teachers. As a rabbi, she would have great respect for Jewish tradition, yet would know how important it is to be creative, and to push boundaries.

Our ancient Rabbis were creative geniuses. Through difficult life situations-from exile to persecution, they continued to expand Judaism, ensuring that it was, and is elastic enough, to continue to change and grow with the times.

Without the ancient rabbis' genius, for example, we would not have midrash, legends and lessons that bring the text to life. Stephen Hazan Aranoff teaches “Midrash provided the ancient rabbis with more than a system of deep analysis and discussion of Torah. It was also the classic rabbinic mode for exploring new and challenging ideas, stories and visions--within the familiar language and narrative of Torah.” The genius of the ancient rabbis allowed Judaism to flourish, becoming stronger when it may have faded, using creativity which was firmly rooted in tradition.

Yes, I think Hermione Granger would make a great rabbi.

Let me share with you a comparison that may startle you: I think Harry Potter is like Moses.

Moses was an unwilling leader. He was so reticent he asked God for an assistant, as he felt he could not do it alone!

Harry, too, was an unwilling leader. As he grew up, the weight of his task led to moodiness and reticence, especially in book five.

Both Harry and Moses, while fulfilling their destiny, have fairly lonely lives.

Moses is the only one who can communicate directly with God. Imagine-do you think he was able to sit by the fire at night and crack jokes with his fellow Israelites? No, something of him would always be separate, apart, from his community.

So, too, with Harry. As the boy with the scar-the boy who didn't die, he is whispered about, sometimes made fun of. He has skills that appear out of nowhere-like speaking parsel tongue- that continue to separate him from his community. While he fights the Dark Lord, he cannot be truly a part of his community. He cannot be an ordinary kid, or teenager.

Both Moses and Harry are given a destiny that is beyond their control, and both live up to that fate. Moses releases our ancestors from freedom, and journeys to the Promised Land, helping us to become a fully religious community. Harry takes on the Dark Lord, and without revealing anything in book seven, shows the bravery and courage that is his inheritance.

And the last point, one I am taken with: both are flawed leaders, totally human even in their super-human tasks. Harry is a lousy communicator and terrible at asking for help. Moses loses his temper and asks God, some could say, for too much.

I believe we are attracted to Harry, as to Moses-for they could be any of us. As imperfect beings taking on tremendous, often overwhelming tasks, they prove to us that each of us has within ourselves the power to change the world.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are serious flaws in this comparison. But it does highlight some of what I believe draws us to Harry, and what makes Moses a sacred and compelling figure.

At its most superficial, Harry Potter is great fun, and a wonderful read. In 2001, Ariella Goldman, age 13, from California, wrote: “Is Harry Potter Jewish, you ask? No. Harry Potter just exhibits many characteristics of a Jew. He is a leader, is loyal to his friends, and doesn't abandon his heritage.” Ariella Goldman is now about 20 years old. Having related to Harry Potter's Jewishness at age 13 so beautifully, it's clear to me that, through the lives of Harry, Hermione and Ron we can, and do, find deeper lessons and reminders of the magic that is Judaism.

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