It’s Confirmed: Ruby Rose’s Batwoman Will Be Jewish In New TV Series
Elizabeth Anweis, Rachel Skarsten, Ruby Rose, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, and Nicole Kang of “Batwoman” speak onstage during the The CW Network 2019 Upfronts at New York City Center on May 16, 2019 in New York City Image by Getty/Kevin Mazur/Contributor
By PJ Grisar August 5, 2019
When the CW announced last August that gender fluid actor Ruby Rose would play Batwoman in a forthcoming series, some corners of the internet expressed concern that Rose, while queer like the character, is not, also like the character, Jewish.
While it has yet to be reported if Rose has taken to the mikveh, “Batwoman” showrunner Caroline Dries stated during a Television Critics Association talk August 4 that the Katherine Kane Batwoman would be a member of the tribe.
“Kate Kane is a Jewish woman,” Dries said, but emphasized that that facet of her background was “not a huge thing” when it comes to the series’s story. So, don’t expect her to be off the crime-fighting clock when it nears sundown on Friday.
How exactly Kane’s Judaism will manifest – maybe a sprinkling of Yiddish in her vocabulary – remains to be seen, but her connection to the faith in the comics was always a tad tenuous to begin with. We know she’s Jewish because she’s seen lighting a menorah on Christmas Eve in a one off holiday issue from 2006. That’s pretty much it.
As a representative for inclusiveness and diversity, this Batwoman is more of a standard bearer for the LGBTQ community. But of course she isn’t just that either. As Dries said at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con, the show plans to make Kane’s sexuality – like her religious affiliation – only a part of her overall identity.
“Batwoman” premieres October 6, two days before the beginning of Yom Kippur. No word yet on if Kathy Kane plans on fasting.
PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture fellow. He can be reached at Grisar@Forward.com.
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