A Second Look at 'Rabbi's Cat'

After reading Paul Eisenstein’s article in The Jewish Graphic Novel, I was able to pick out a few major themes in Rabbi’s Cat. Something about professional essayists- they are always able to pick up on things like that. Anyway, one theme that I quickly identified in my own reading of the story was questioning tradition. Jewish tradition is definitely seen in Rabbi’s Cat and is most certainly challenged by the cat as well as the French Jews in the story.

Eisenstein argues that the cat can be seen as a nontraditional Jew. While this can be explained by the cat’s argument over his Jewish-ness with the rabbi, I think the main idea is that the cat (now able to speak) challenges the traditional beliefs of Judaism, held by both the rabbi and the ‘rabbi’s rabbi’.

The cat’s challenge of Jewish tradition in ‘Rabbi’s Cat’ reflects the issue of adaptability in modern-day religion. Tradition in general means rejection of new ideas and sometimes objects in order to keep religious belief and practice safe from corruption. I believe that through the challenges highlighted in the book by the cat, Joann Sfar is making the point that religion should not be dictated by the tradition of a paternal authority, but rather it should involve a personal interpretation. According to Sfar, without personal interpretation of Judaism and taking on new ideas and objects, the religion loses its authenticity.