Political Perspective: Jewish All-Americans Wandering Through Wilderness

Just give peace a chance! Sounds great conceptually but not practical in the Middle East, where Arab states fail to recognize the existence of the state of Israel, which is roughly the size of New Jersey and surrounded by hostile dictatorships with 40 times as many citizens. Incredibly, hundreds of Progressive rabbis and a stunning number of Democratic Congressmen support a genocidal Iranian nuclear deal.

Factitiously, perhaps President Barack Obama, a JV basketball player for Occidental (Calif.) and one of a number of politicians who played the game, would look more favorably upon Israel if the landscape resembled several decades ago when there was a striking number of impact Jewish hoopsters. In a 30-year span from 1933-34 through 1962-63, occasional powerhouses CCNY, LIU, NYU and St. John's each featured three different Jewish All-Americans on CollegeHoopedia's comprehensive list.

Obama, who received more than 3/4 of the Jewish vote in 2008, said his commitment to Israel is "unshakable," but many Jewish State advocates think such an "I've-got-your back" claim is the height of diplomatic chutzpah. Several years ago, the White House refused to allow non-official photographers to document a multi-layer lecturing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and no statement was issued afterward upon the PM being ushered out the back door like a scorned referee. Essentially, many Americans were left with leadership envy after war-of-words gamesmanship between Bibi (steadfast fighter against terrorism) and Baby (lame "leader" unwilling to even say Islamic terrorist). The administration has reinforced its stance by insisting Israel stop building homes in Jerusalem, demanding it move back to pre-1967 indefensible borders and attempting to stall Israeli military action while neighboring Iran develops its nuclear technology. Ayatollah "You Did Build That (Racial Divides)" Obama, demonizing Bibi as if he was a pro-lifer or member of Tea Party, appears too busy deciding his NCAA bracket "papwa" to call the Israeli prime minister and congratulate him for winning re-election.

Thus the remedy for Israel generating more political support might be another prophet Moses surfacing for the Jewish community as it copes with a current U.S. basketball exodus of sorts for them. House Minority Leader Nanny Pelosi, stretching her face to its limit in support of Israel, recently came close to democratically weeping about major matters apparently because Jews are in the midst of wandering 40 years across the hoop desert seeking another All-American. And the Promised Land isn't within sight since Tennessee's Ernie Grunfeld was the last American Jewish honoree (1976 and 1977).

Israel native Doron Sheffer, a Connecticut guard, was named an All-American in 1995-96. Three additional Israeli products earned all-conference recognition - Connecticut forward Nadav Henefeld (Big East in 1989-90), Wright State center Israel Sheinfeld (Midwestern Collegiate in 1999-2000 and 2000-01) and California forward-center Amit Tamir (Pacific-10 in 2002-03). More than half of the following American Jewish All-Americans secured such an honor before the State of Israel declared independence in mid-May 1948:

U.S. Jewish All-American, School (Year)
Irv Bemoras, Illinois (1953)
Jules Bender, Long Island (1937)
Meyer "Mike" Bloom, Temple (1938)
Harry Boykoff, St. John's (1943)
Tal Brody, Illinois (1965)
Howie Carl, DePaul (1961)
Marvin Colen, Loyola of Chicago (1937)
Irwin Dambrot, CCNY (1950)
William Fleishman, Western Reserve (1936)
Don Forman, New York University (1948)
Larry Friend, California (1957)
Moe Goldman, CCNY (1934)
Don Goldstein, Louisville (1959)
Hyman "Hy" Gotkin, St. John's (1944)
Ernie Grunfeld, Tennessee (1976 and 1977)
Art Heyman, Duke (1961 through 1963)
William "Red" Holzman, CCNY (1942)
Barry Kramer, New York University (1963 and 1964)
Jerry Nemer, Southern California (1933)
Bernie Opper, Kentucky (1939)
Lennie Rosenbluth, North Carolina (1956 and 1957)
Oscar "Ossie" Schectman, Long Island (1941)
Alan Seiden, St. John's (1959)
Sid Tanenbaum, New York University (1946 and 1947)
Irv Torgoff, Long Island (1939)
Neal Walk, Florida (1968 and 1969)