Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky

By Anne Cohen January 2, 2014

Another famous institution has jumped on the Israel academic boycott bandwagon. A little place known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry announced that it would “cancel summer student exchange programmes it has in place with several Israeli magical institutes, and withdraw from a Quidditch tournament arranged by the Israeli Tourism Ministry due to be held at Eilat by the Red Sea next Spring.”

At least, that’s what was reported by the Pan-Arabia Enquirer — essentially The Onion of the Middle East.

Merlin’s beard, what a relief! Imagine having to part with all that Harry Potter memorabilia (yes, we know about the Gryffindor scarf hidden in the back of your closet).

Funny as the idea of Minerva McGonagall issuing a statement “in solidarity with sorcerers, scholars and students of magic deprived of their academic freedom in the Occupied Territories”, and citing “Israel’s violation of international law and UN resolutions and its impact on young Palestinian witches and wizards,” what really makes this article worth reading are the comments:

—”As a parent who sends his children to Sweet Valley High, I welcome the decision by Hogwarts in joining our school in protesting this human rights violation.”

—”This is an outrage! Surely we should respect wizardly independence! There’s no reason witchcraft should suffer as a result of any government’s actions. It’s absurd to expect them to have all their broomsticks and cauldrons through the tunnels with Egypt.”

Others didn’t quite get the joke. Muggles… am I right?

Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief

You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.

And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.

That’s where you come in. Gifts of any size keep the Forward free and accessible to everyone and ensure we have the resources we need to power the Forward at this critical time for American Jews.

Don't just read the Forward - invest in it. Will you support our work today?

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$120 $180 $360 OTHER AMOUNT