Jewish Dwarves?

[Midge]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

Stereotyping much?

The only stereotype is the affinity for precious metals and jewels. The rest of them are facts. But stereotypes don't pop up out of nowhere. They may not apply to every single person in a group, but they must be true for at least a portion, or else they would not be associated with that group.

As for the idea of the Dwarves being similar to the Jews, Tolkien himself made the distinction:

Tolkien also elaborated on Jewish influence on his Dwarves in a letter: "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue..."

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_%28Middle-earth%29.

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

I just can't picture them foregoing pork products!

You got me there.