Is Game of Thrones Really Based on the Passover Story?

By Wendy Jackler with Esther Kustanowitz

If you like a little pop culture interpretation in your Passover, why not do a mashup with Game of Thrones? We’ll start you off… Who is a better Moses — Daenerys Targaryen or Jon Snow?

The case for Daenerys: Just as Moses was hidden for his protection from Pharaoh’s decree, Daenerys was sent away because Robert Baratheon orders that she, the last Targaryen and threat to his power, be killed; Daenerys grew up to free slaves in Mereen and other slave cities; She wandered in the desert for at least 5 seasons before reaching the Promised Land of Westeros; And talk about finding power in a burning bush? Dany emerges from a fire unscathed and the custodian of three dragon eggs, which we’re going to say represent three matzos representing the three classes of Israelites: Cohen, Levi and Israel.

The case for Jon Snow: Jon also has a “hidden as a baby” backstory; Jon and Moses were both adopted by noble families; Moses was famously drawn from the water, and snow is basically fluffy frozen water; Similar to the way Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian slave-master, Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch–he might not have been a criminal himself, but the Night’s Watch is full of men paying for crimes; Moses felt he wasn’t worthy of leading his people, and Jon is emerging from a lifetime of being told he wasn’t worthy. And what other parallels will we see this season? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

Wendy Jackler is the director of operations for Hebrew Helpers, a creative thinker and a Game of Thrones enthusiast. Esther D. Kustanowitz is a writer, editor and consultant based in Los Angeles.