On the first night of Hanukkah, J.K. Rowling revealed that Jewish students walked the halls of Hogwarts in the "Harry Potter" books.
The issue of religion was revealed by Rowling on Twitter in response to a fan.
@jk_rowling my wife said there are no Jews at Hogwarts. I’m a Jew so I assume she said it to be the only magical 1 in the family. Thoughts?
— ben (@benjaminroffman) December 16, 2014
.@benjaminroffman Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw, Jewish wizard. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 16, 2014
Anthony Goldstein was one of the original 40 students at Hogwarts and was in the same year as Harry. He joined Dumbledore's Army and fought for the school in the final installment during his fifth year. Goldstein's name, like many other "Harry Potter" characters, was taken from a friend.
Rowling also pointed out in her tweets that Goldstein was not the only Jew in Hogwarts, but she "just has reasons for knowing most about him." The only religion apparently not represented in the "Harry Potter" books are Wiccans.
To everyone asking whether their religion/belief/non-belief system is represented at Hogwarts: the only people I never imagined there 1/2 — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 16, 2014
are Wiccans. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 16, 2014
Not only was it revealed last night that Hogwarts is religiously diverse, but it's also a place that is accepting of various sexual orientations.
@jk_rowling it's safe to assume that Hogwarts had a variety of people and I like to think it's a safe place for LGBT students — tiny gay tati // 8 (@claraoswiin) December 16, 2014
.@claraoswiin But of course. pic.twitter.com/Galu47MT4X
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 16, 2014
