Jews and Werewolves

Jeremy Wexler discusses the werewolf as a metaphor for the experience of Jewish immigrants in the Forward.

The decline of the modern-day werewolf should be of concern, since it is largely a metaphor for being Jewish in the 20th century. Consider the modern werewolf narrative: A hairy young outsider becomes saddled with an identity he doesn't want or particularly like, the meaning of which is told to him by an old European lady speaking a lot of mumbo jumbo.

You could also say that the decline of the metaphor is of some concern because its signifies the loss of 'outsider' status among American jews. History argues that Jewish 'Golden Ages' are hardly unusual and are invariably terminated by savage attacks from thoroughly non-fictional beasts.