Twilight screenwriter, Melissa Rosenberg, tells the Jewish Journal that “her” vampires are not like any others. “They’re kosher vampires,” Rosenberg says, laughing.
To call them “kosher” may be a stretch, but the leading figure, Edward Cullen, and his family are all “vegetarians” — which in this context means they don’t drink human blood, though they do eat animals — and therefore they are not killers, but hunters. Their anomalous way of life, in which diet is not simply a carnal drive but a moral choice, makes them outsiders, not only from the world of mortals but also from the larger vampire culture, who see the Cullens as a threat to the vampire establishment. The story’s human protagonist, Bella, idolizes the Cullens, and, you could say, sees them as a light unto the vampire nation.
Well, what do you think? Are these vampires really different? Are all vampires “Jewish”, in the sense that they are eternal outsiders, as Rosenberg speculates? I am not sure, but I do know that any time you watch a movie, and ask who is the “Jewish character”, you will learn a great deal about what being Jewish means — not to the character, but to yourself. Now that’s always intersting.
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted November 22, 2009 at 8:00 am
Hmmmmm, I see the Cullens’ as a sort of nuclear family lead by a good role model. A role model preaching abstinence and virtue. Look at how well his son turned out.
THAT is probably why they are outcasts. Outcasts of both worlds of humans and vampires. The individuals in the Cullens clan are trying not to “sin” anymore by using others for their personal gain, like they did in their past.
Notice Bella comes from a broken home and has no issue with “giving in” to temptation. (Of course that almost always being the model of Hollywood productions.) She seems more and more drawn to a better community (?) once she “gets to know” the kind of “people” Edwin comes from.
A community of believers in nobility and virtue surrounded and, yet, outcast, by a world of lust and indulgence. A world they willingly work and continually reject. Though it would be effortless to indulge it once again.
Ummm, er, uh, as it were.
posted November 22, 2009 at 8:42 am
Considering how abusive and twisted the relationship between the two protagonists are, it does my heart dismay to see the vampire coven compared to Jews. If “morality” is going to be solely defined by the fact that the male protagonist does not have sex with the female (who is desperate to most of the books), then yes, he is “moral.” But a person who controls every physical aspect of their relationship, one who becomes so obsessive over the object of their affections that they stalk them, and one who openly berates them “out of love,” should not be compared to the Jewish people.
Meyer claims the vampires are “outcasts” in her books, but in reality, they are the superior beings (the superior race, perhaps?) – idols that are worshiped by the protagonist.
posted November 22, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Well said, Emily with a Kippah. You hit all the points that I would have made.
posted November 22, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Edwin? I meant Edward.
Don’t tell my daughter.
posted November 23, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Ummm…This is a VERY commercial movie taken from a VERY commercial book. I suspect it has very litte “deeper meaning.” I suppose, as the rabbi says, if one looks for the “Jewish” character in every movie, what one finds says a good deal…about oneself.
Let the teenage girls have fun with this; look for a different sort of book or movie to find deeper meaning. Though I suppose one can learn a good deal about teenage girls’ tastes by watching it!
Lucy
posted November 29, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I think there is to much pre occupation with nonsense like vampires and those who would emulate such! Of couse the topic is quite the opposite of anything considered Judeo- Christian and not even remotely acceptable or “Kosher” as a concept. Not to mention the Nazi and Arab hate propaganda used even now to say things like Jews use Christian childrens blood to make matzoh! Perhaps Ms. Rosenberg needs to spend more time reading the Torah, rather than (if you really think about a vulgar topic)Bloodsuckers yuk! There will of course those that say its just harmless fiction but again for many this is an obsession,like porn, now considered ok by most…I’m NOT for censorship but can certainly recommend some amazingly superior literature, programs and writers…
posted November 29, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Emily with the Kippah said it all. Two teens (albeit one who has been 17 forever), who can’t say two words to each other without freezing up; vampires drinking only animal blood–c’mon, it’s still blood! Kosher? Not bloody likely! My money is on the shifters.
posted November 29, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Kosher vampires? is that not an oxymoron
posted November 30, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Twilight is about pedophilia. What?! You say?
Think about it… a hundred + year old man tools around high schools lusting after and luring in underaged girls. The fact that he is handsome, young, and has glittery skin is the initial outward attractant. But what makes him so romantic? 100 years of experience, and 100 years of maturity. What makes him so successful at luring in a little girl? 100 years of experience, and 100 years of maturity. I worry that so many girls want to be Bella, and I am afraid they may believe their dream is coming true when a 25 or 30 year old vampire of another type crosses their paths.
posted December 2, 2009 at 1:24 am
I do not think that everyone should make a BIG STINK about this movie saga because it is all FAKE! Does everyone have to make big deals about NOTHING? No one ever gave Ann Rice this much JUNK about her Vampires! Why is it because her vampires were brutal and did not sparkle?,For that fact we as people have not gave any other writer this much crap over things that have been penned.Steven King has wrote some grewsome stuff and he has not been bothered. or anyone else who wrote about fictional characters. Think about it we are all human and it is our nature to Day Dream about everything and anything.So I think we all need to give this Lady a break about her Vampires,I happen to think that the Author of the serious did a beautiful Job with her writing. and I PRAISE HER IN HER LUCK WITH HER WRITING!. I hope she writes more about her Vampires and Warewolfs!