In the ongoing, continuing-to-be-appalling aftermath of October 7, Israeli media carried a small news item last week concerning the country’s women’s national basketball team playing an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers’ game. No Canadian media outlets appeared to report the story. It was a small story with a very large message.
For security reasons due to the war, the Israeli team played the game in Latvia as the home team. Israeli’s opponent was the women’s team from Ireland. At first, the Irish team refused to play the Israelis, preferring instead, to withdraw from the qualifying game. To its credit, FIBA warned the Irish squad that it would face severe monetary and other penalties if they did not proceed with the match. So, the team changed its stance. The game was played as scheduled.
But the Irish took umbrage at a statement by one of the Israeli players, Dor Sa’ar, that the Irish team was antisemitic. The Irish basketball authorities filed an official complaint with the organizers of FIBA Europe. “Basketball Ireland is extremely disappointed by these accusations, which are both inflammatory and wholly inaccurate,” the complaint said.
Cheryl Levi, an Israeli writer, shared her views of the Irish complaint and their feigned offence. “So, the game was on. The Irish team refused to exchange gifts and shake hands with the Israeli team (a decision that was fully supported by Basketball Ireland). They also sat on the bench instead of standing center-court during the playing of Israel’s national anthem. It was a show of supreme unsportsmanlike behavior. In fact, let’s just call it what it was: antisemitism.”
The Israeli team defeated the Irish team 87-57.
Levi further noted what most of us know also to be true. “The refusal of the Irish women’s basketball team to play against Israel is indicative of an even bigger problem. It’s a sign of the antisemitic rot that has been eating away at countries like Ireland for decades.”
She asked the important question: “So how do we stand up to countries – [we can add individuals, groups and organizations] – that have become synonymous with antisemitism?”
Levi’s question is, essentially, the very same one most of us have been asking ourselves these past four months.
One answer came from Dor Sa’ar, the Israeli player who commented on the Irish team’s prior disposition towards their Israeli counterpart. The day before the match she explained her motivation and that of her teammates. “Since October 7th, our lives have all changed, so since then it’s important to represent our country with dignity, fight on the field, and show that we are good and capable, and I believe that we can do it.”
Sa’ar’s example is one of plain courage. We should follow it. We should heed her words and take them to heart.
Of course, we do not “represent” the State of Israel – except in the eyes of the antisemites who draw no distinction between Israelis and Jews. But we can and we must “represent” and act in defense of our people, our faith and our history.
And how do we “fight”? We “fight” by being demonstrably Jewish. In the process, we “show that we are good and capable.” We are proud, grateful members of our Canadian Jewish community.
And just as Sa’ar promised, we “can do it” too. And we shall.
To ensure that our children and grandchildren will be able to join the battle, in their turn, we must try to help make affordable the education they will need to immerse themselves in the exceptional depth, beauty and sustaining strength of their faith and their history.
Kol hakavod to the Women’s National Basketball team of Israel.
Levi’s article can be found at:
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Shabbat shalom
Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
February 16, 2024
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 