I would totally do that for my son's school so that I would know that what my children are being told to read is acceptable. I would then also participate in their birthday club - where the parents give a donation to the school for the purchase of a book (with the kid's name inscribed in it). i won't participate in this program at this time because the school does not give the parents any say on what book they purchase. And, my son's school has Harry Potter on the shelves.

I just started selling a 200-page book called Harry Potter and Torah, which contains over 20 Divrei Torah that I connected to themes in the Harry Potter series. Each is based fully on traditional frum scholarship, with over 300 footnotes. You can find out more, including a sample chapter, at www.harrypottertorah.com

I haven't read all the discussion here, and I know that some people have been against this approach to chinuch. All I'll say is that I've discussed this in depth with Rabbonim. A letter of haskama is on my web site.

I'm happy to discuss any questions, and will try to check back to see comments posted here.

DovKrulwich:
I hope you do not take offense at this, but do hear me out. I am a scholar of English in post-grad school, and most of my time is spent either in writing or in research. This particular field of study (as I am certain you are aware, since you yourself appear to be an accomplished writer) requires one to be proficiently trained in the conjoining of new ideas and in making equivocations and parallels where in fact, none may well exist. Still, we are trained, like attorneys, to make the arguments. Prologue, Jstor, etc. are pregnant with these scholarly essays filled with "new takes" on material. I have never rellished this part of the educational process, as it seems ridiculous that 800 scholars have written on the "real" messages that Shakespeare was conveying, when, as brilliant as Shakespeare was, it would be impossible for them all to be correct.

As with these scholars, who trace "obvious" and willful correlations that simply aren't there, and if they are, they are likely coincidental, I am afraid your work is based upon a similar premise. The problem with this thinking, is that, even with all the footnotes drawing out similarities, the fundamental question MUST be asked: What did the WRITER intend? If, as you suggest, the book Harry Potter was in fact a thinly veiled Torah learning venture, then the writer did a poor job of it indeed, insofar as prohibited subjects were utilized to do so, such as sorcery being used to perpetuate G-d and Torah. Worse, the writer missed the mark entirely, as the readership is not based upon the Jewish market nor upon the perpetuation of Jewish world-repairing ideas to the world.

Granted, I have not read your book (yet) and if this is not your premise, and I have spoken hastily, forgive me. If it is based upon your speculation of the source of the material for Harry Potter being from Torah, then frankly, I could write a lengthy adjunct "proving" that the Bhagavad Gita, or the Egyptian Book of the Dead (which preceded Torah in written form) also were "based upon" Torah, via mental and literary gymnastics. However, such would be a waste of time and likewise erroneous as neither book was written with the intention to emmulate Torah. Anyway, I am only saying that interesting correlations do not truth make, and books written about the Harry Potter series do not make the books worthwhile either.

A man wrote a very interesting article on the many "borrowed" ideas and symbols of Judaism which were prevalent in the Star Trek series. It was true--there were many distinct similarities and even outright hijacking of ideas and symbols( i.e. the Vulcan's hand gesture wishing long life and prosperity, being the hand sign used by the Koheinim), but the truth still remains, that hijacked or no, the Star Trek series' intention was NOT to perpetuate Torah and was therefore not worth watching, as it too had elements that were unkosher (classical meaning-- unpermissible, unacceptable).

Compelling as your argument is, I am afraid I am unmoved on the subject, although I am perfectly willing to entertain more discussion on the topic to contradict my assertions. I am not unreasonable, only unconvinced that this material is appropriate for my children. If I am wrong, do show me how so.

Kol Tov,
Yocheved

Yocheved,

Thanks for your message, I'm certainly happy to discuss my book and clarify any questions that people may have.

You seem to believe that my book is attempting to advance Harry Potter scholarship, attributing Torah intentions to J K Rowling's writing of the series. As you point out, this would be silly.

What my book (and likely the Star Trek book as well) is trying to do is the opposite -- advance and promote Torah scholarship by connecting Torah insights to themes from the series. You can read the sample chapter on my Web site, and you'll see that the bulk of the chapter is a discussion of a chidush Torah by HaRav Solomon, embelished slightly and explained in a way that I hope a mass market audience will understand, and also connected to a theme from Harry Potter as a way to make it interesting. Despite some polemics, I hardly think that J K Rowling thought of the Torah notion I discuss when writing the series.

I hope that this answers your concern, and I'm happy to discuss it more, either now or after you've read the book itself.

Good Erev Shabbos!

What a sad testimony of this generation that they may need Harry Potter to make Torah interesting. Makes one wonder how the Baal Shem Tov got by without Lord of The Rings. Where did this idea come from that we need puppet shows and cartoons and to lean on secular things to get people interested in Torah? Should we give free hamburgers at Shul to get people to come? Isn't the love of Hashem alone enough? If someone doesn't love G-d and Torah without the help of Harry Potter is secular occult fiction really going to help? Highly doubtful.

I happen to agree with the principle behind Jeff K's comment, but the fact is that most Jews in the world today are so totally disconnected from Torah that they'll never examine it seriously and give thought to how it can fit their lives. People like this need something to bring them in.

I add to this also that too large a number of seemingly frum Jews are observant by habit but don't truly connect Torah to their "real lives" and their interests. People like this also seem to need a hook to get them to connect Torah (even that which they keep) to their interests and "real lives."

These two types of people are my audience, along with anyone who interacts with or teaches people of these types.

When Moshe Rabbeinu descended from the mountain in order to elevate the people to Torah he didn't draw comparisons from the golden calf.
That's what bothers me about this subject.
I understand both sides of this and indeed to say it is a heartbreaking and horrible fact that most Jews are not religious is a vast understatement. However to become more like the people we try to reach and less like ourselves isn't an idea by any means found in Torah. In fact it's opposite is proclaimed and to the extreme. The contagious excitement of a person who has a dynamic relationship with Hashem is more effective then 100 episodes of Itche Kadoozy yes? More seriously, it would be much better if those who do would collectively and unselfishly take the high road and make it a mission to interceed in behalf of those who don't before the Most High G-d as opposed to contaminating ourselves with their treyfe.

Jeff, there are many who would say that frum people posting on forums (as you and I are both doing) is "becoming more like people we try to reach and less like ourselves." Where's the line? I place it on content -- and the content of my book is based on sources as frum as they come. If you or anyone else place the line elsewhere, that's certainly your right.

In the end, my answer is that I've been mekayem "aseh lecha Rav," have posted one letter of haskama on my Web site, and have several other Rabbonim that support my book.

The sample chapter that I've posted at http://www.harrypottertorah.com relates to the parshios that we're in the middle of right now, and is a good starting point for anyone trying to understand or reach an opinion about my book.

The chapter is clarifying, thankyou. I am still of the opinion you could have better used your time, but at least it is not heading the direction I was afraid of. Good luck to you and yours.

Yocheved

quote:

Originally posted by DovKrulwich:
I happen to agree with the principle behind Jeff K's comment, but the fact is that most Jews in the world today are so totally disconnected from Torah that they'll never examine it seriously and give thought to how it can fit their lives. People like this need something to bring them in.

I am glad you see the dilemma. I guess the frustrating thing is that we have movements based upon purist ideas--even wild secular ones like "art for art's sake", why can we not have "Torah for Torah's sake"? Maybe this will be a door for someone to come home through--I certainly hope so. But I won't show my girls your book because they will then say they want to read the rest of Harry Potter since they have read much of it in your book.

Do you see the problem? What might help someone on the outside regain interest (namely children), may hurt someone on the inside by encouraging them to look out to the world's version of magic (due to the renewed interest cultivated by the Harry Potter series). Your book cannot be read without the encouraging of the reading of Harry Potter. I don't think that is your intent at all, don't get me wrong; I am only saying that it is an almost unavoidable affect. That is my concern in a nutshell. Just a little too close to the fence for me.

I read your chapter, and I thought some of your excerpts and their take on them were great. I tried reading reading it without the Harry Potter inserts, and it turns out to be a great read all on its own. Wish he wasn't part of it.

Shalom! Yocheved