Should There be a Jewish Narnia?

Ten years ago, in the inaugural issue of Jewish Review of Books, Michael Weingrad wrote an article entitled “Why There is No Jewish Narnia.” In the article, Weingrad asks why there exists a Christian Narnia, but no Jewish parallel. After a brief introduction, Weingrad subdivides this initial question into two, "(1) Why don’t Jews write more fantasy literature? (2) Why are there no works of modern fantasy that are profoundly Jewish in the way that, say, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is Christian?" 

Weingrad mainly concentrates on the first question and immediately finds himself in hot water. After all, Jews created fantastical creatures such as golems and dybbuks, and produced authors such as Franz Kafka and Isaac Bashevis Singer to write about them. In response Weingrad narrows his definition of fantasy as literature to works, “connected with a world, with a place of magic, strangeness, danger, and charm; and whether it is called Perelandra, Earthsea, Amber, or Oz, this world must be a truly alien place.” Weingrad suggests that the lack of Jewish authors in this narrowed field is due to the different histories of Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages, "the conventional trappings of fantasy, with their feudal atmosphere and rootedness in rural Europe, are not especially welcoming to Jews." In the remainder of the article, Weingrad goes on to identify some modern Jewish writers who he feels have taken up their fantasy pens with respect to both the first and second question.

Weingrad’s article made quite a splash with a slew of Jews, Christians, and others wading into the fray. In response to the first question many pointed to Jewish authors such as Isaac Asimov (obviously a science fiction writer but also an author of fantasy), Avram Davidson, and others as first rate fantasy writers. Others noted the various comic book characters created by Jews and the Jewish themes manifest in their stories. Still others agreed with Weingard’s main point but questioned the need for Jewish-themed fantasy. 

Over the next few posts I would like to address my own interpretation of Weingard’s original question - Why is There No Jewish Narnia? In addition, I would like to suggest a recipe for creating one. However, before doing so, we need to ask ourselves the following: should there be a Jewish Narnia? Should Jews desire that there come into existence a Jewish parallel to Lewis’ Chronicles? Of course, in order to address that we need to ask yet another question: what is important and worthwhile about the Chronicles of Narnia that Jews should want to replicate? 

What first and foremost makes the Chronicles of Narnia important is that they are popular and not only amongst Christians. Therefore, the Chronicles spread the ethos and ethics of Christianity to the entire world in a way that perhaps Jewish authors have not. A corollary to this is that the popularity of the Chronicles suggests that they contain eternal and universal truths. C.S. Lewis encompasses these truths within a Christian worldview. Second, the Chronicles of Narnia are easily read and assimilated by children (they are children’s literature) while clearly conveying highly important themes. 

In parallel, a Jewish (and similarly popular) Narnia would spread the ethics of Judaism to the entire world. Of course, one may argue that this is not desirable. Jews are not a missionizing people and this is certainly true. Nevertheless, the purpose of Jewish Nation is very much to educate all humanity in moral virtues and the knowledge of God and thus a Jewish Narnia would help fulfill that role. In addition, a Jewish Narnia would manifest eternal truths as part of Judaism thus allowing people to see Judaism as the source of proper moral values. Finally, a Jewish Narnia would be able to relate these values to children. For these reasons, I would argue that there is immense value in a Jewish Narnia. 

In the next post we will start discussing how C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia. This will be used as a guide as to how to write a Jewish parallel which we will expand upon in subsequent posts.  

However, before doing so, let us return to Weingrad’s question. With the above analysis I would suggest that the importance of Narnia is not in its fantasy per se, but in its ability and success in engaging people of all ages and of all religious mindsets. A Jewish parallel must do the same, but with Jewish values at the front and center. Such novels would encompass eternal and universal truths as integrated into a Jewish framework demonstrating the truth and eternity of Judaism.