Rowling confirms: Anthony Goldstein, Harry Potter’s classmate, is Jewish

Ron Kampeas

(JTA) — J.K. Rowling confirmed that one of Harry Potter’s classmates in her famed series is Jewish.

“Anthony Goldstein, Ravenclaw, Jewish wizard,” the novelist said Tuesday on Twitter, responding to a query as to whether there were Jews at Hogwarts, the wizard school. Ravenclaw is one of four houses at Hogwarts.

Fans of the series had speculated that Goldstein, who fights alongside Harry Potter as part of “Dumbledore’s Army,” was of Jewish origin, but Rowling’s tweet is the first confirmation.