By Joshua Gross, Connecticut Otzmanik
Right now, even with talk of disengagement and Bush's pledge of unity, the drama on Israel's basketball courts is concededly hotter than that in the political arena. Last week, Hapoel Jerusalem, the underdog that few Israelis believed in or cared about less than a year ago, beat Real Madrid for the ULEB cup, which makes Hapoel the second Israeli team to ever win a European basketball championship. Fans marched down Yaffo Street and poured into Zion Square to celebrate. It was one of those momentary hiccups where everyone seemed to forget about the tense political situation and embraced the roar of life with a euphoric and overwhelming veracity.
The following day, reading the sports page of Haaretz Daily gave me a better grip on the country's day-to-day reality than the front-page headlines. The victory over Madrid was all that anyone was talking about on the streets. For a fleeting moment, the volume of argument-unceasing, abrasive and in-your-face-died down in favor of more pleasant banter. This talk of buzzer-beaters and slam dunks is strikingly absent from the average day in Israel while in America it is the focus of considerable attention. The things we take for granted at home-Olympic gold medals, championship rings, internationally recognized music and film-are part of the subconscious wellspring of our pride as Americans, and these are the very fundamentals that Israelis lack. Israelis are markedly impressed whenever I mention one of their musicians, actors or films in conversations. "You've heard of him?" is the common response. "But he's Israeli!"
As the Intifada has worn on, Israel has begun to show signs of country-wide depression. The words and opinions of young people betray a fatalistic attitude which may prove to be truly fatal. The common response that my students in Yokneam gave me when I asked them how they felt about terrorism, if they were scared or intimidated, was, "Whatever, if I die, I die." When asked about other countries condemning Israeli actions, a popular response is, "Whatever, they hate us; everyone hates us." Many of the students told me that they feel as if they have little to be proud of.
Never in their history have Israelis had less to be proud of and more to resent. They are villianized across the globe; once victims and patriots, Israelis are more commonly perceived as oppressors, colonizers, and even Nazis in today's world media. The generation of gentiles that wept while reading Exodus has had children and those children are much more engaged by Chomsky than by Uris. The miraculous glow of the story of Israeli's birth has faded from the hearts and minds of those outsiders who used to view their struggle with admiration and wonder.
In this dark climate, victories like Hapoel Jerusalem's are like rays of sunshine through the storm clouds. The country craves a reason, any reason, to celebrate. As another Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, heads to another Euroleague final four, many opposing fans of Maccabi are rallying behind them as they represent Israel. A final four victory or an Olympic gold this summer (which would be Israel's first) could be just the shot in the arm that the country so desperately needs.
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