The Curious Kitty

Luke Frederick 

African Lit

May 23, 2011

Dr. Benander

The Curious Kitty

The Rabbi’s Cat was an excellent graphic novel, ranking up with the best of the best. Sfar’s storyline was great, not only entertaining but also a well done cultural critique.  Kitty was pure perfection as a character and he was constantly used to get Sfar’s point across, which the Rabbi and other characters didn’t always agree with.  Sfar probably realized that most people reading this story would not be Jewish, so Kitty played the reader in the story often asking background questions about Judaism and its culture to better inform the reader. In contrast as the story goes along, the Rabbi starts to serve this purpose of clarifying things for the reader and explain different traditions and practices.  The battle of the story once again is tradition versus modernity and where to find the common ground.

In the beginning the Rabbi firmly represented tradition, saying prayers every morning and faithfully following the Jewish texts and practices.  Then there’s kitty who only wants to become a Jew so that he can marry his mistress (The Rabbi’s Daughter).  Sfar was making a strong point right here, saying that many Non-Jewish people become Jews for the wrong reasons.  Kitty never does become Jewish but defiantly loves them and is part of their circle, which never changes.  Sfar makes many points in the story through the characters themselves, not only in the storyline or events of the story.  This is the case with Malka who is very interesting.   He isn’t in the story long yet does a lot for the story and for the reader.  He truly represents tradition in every way. Wearing traditional Arab dress of North Africa while still being a Jew.  He keeps his lion and rifle with him and doesn’t hesitate to use violence when tested or disrespected.  The Rabbi appreciates this but realizes those are ways of the past and maybe even sins.  He always thanks Malka though because he does things out of his loyalty and kindness of heart which are two very traditional morals almost anywhere in the world.  This is why Malka is loved and respected by everyone. 

Then there is the French Rabbi who fully represents modernity.  He went to school in Paris, wears western clothes, and is not as conservative as the Rabbi when it comes to his Judaism.  It was destined for the two to bump heads which they did strongly in Paris.  At the end of the day it was the Old Rabbi who changed and was transformed into a more modern Jew, which can be good or bad depending on who one asks.  It was good because the Rabbi was more aware of the world and a more open-minded Jew after going to Paris.  He still stuck to too many of his traditional ways but understood the more modern Jews too.  Interestingly enough he realized that some people just take religion too seriously.