For a very long time I have believed that life, the universe, and everything else can be explained by Star Trek and Star Wars. I had assumed that this was my own shtick, based on the cartoon universe I live in.
A-HA! I am not alone!
Recently, Daniel Perez explained Star Wars as a Jewish allegory. If there are two of us who see it, we are not imagining it. Star Wars – Judaism – Maccabees – it all fits.
It is a period of civil war. A new government has declared the practice of the old faith a crime punishable by death, disbanding an ancient order of sages and sending many into exile. Rebel fighters, striking from hidden bases, have won their first major victory against the Evil Empire, stirring a spirit of defiance among the people. Out armed and vastly outnumbered, the ragtag band of rebels – aided by an all-powerful Force – remains the only hope for restoring peace and freedom to their people.
Star Wars Episode VII – maybe. Hanukkah – maybe. Or both.
Halpern’s Rule #19 – There are no coincidences.
The fact that the story is loaded with Hebrew names and Jewish concepts would give rise to the belief that George Lucas knew very well what he was doing.
JEDI – The Hebrew letter ‘yud’ is written in English as a ‘J’, and often a syllable drops out (Joshua=YiHOshuah Judah=YiHUdah). Jedi would be YiHUdim: Jews.
YODA – The Jedi Rebbe’s name means ‘He who knows” – the Hebrew word ‘yada’.
PRINCESS LEIA – Does not take much imagination to see Leah.
I know that the Learning Academy, where aspiring Jedi Knights go to learn, reminds me very much of my Yeshiva days. The student is paired in an apprenticeship arrangement with a more learned Jedi. In the Yeshiva it was called “chavruta” learning (studying with a partner).
While the Jedi are not theists, they believe that there is a Force which, in the words of Reb Obi-Wan Kenobi, “is what gives the Jedi his power. It surrounds us and penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together”.
Carol and I are definitely going to see Star Wars Episode VII. Carol will go because she likes action/sci fi movies – me, because I like Jewish movies.
Chag Sameach
B’Shalom
Rabbi Stanley Halpern