Passover is coming, this time gifting us with weekend seders for the first time in a while, so we can all enjoy them a little more than midweek ones when we are racing from school, work, and activities to seders that start late and end even later on school nights.

I wish you much success in your preparations and, as usual, offer this four-pack of additional questions for you to consider around your tables, or before.

No way out

As I write this, it’s been 530 days since October 7. Even on a good day, I can barely put words together to write anything, and when they do it’s hard to avoid the darkness. With that in mind, my first question has to be a dark one. With the ceasefire shattered and hostages still in captivity, we are in the thick of it, and then some.

So, what’s next? Hamas will not release the hostages—if they do, there is nothing stopping a full-scale invasion and don’t-say-occupation. Hostage families want their loved ones returned before the next invasion and prioritize their return over the destruction of Hamas. Netanyahu cares only about his own survival and will manipulate any situation to ensure he stays in power. Hamas aggressively continues to re-arm and rebuild tunnels for future use. Every endgame is at odds with the next. We are going nowhere, fast, and time is running out for the captives. 

There are no answers, only questions, with no way out.

Question 1: What is your preference? All-out war? Forced relocation? Another occupation? Hamas staying in power? Sacrificing the hostages? 

None of these scenarios work. None. I have nothing hopeful to offer except that Israel isn’t going anywhere and will survive this ongoing catastrophe because there’s no other choice. Unfortunately, this situation will continue to get worse before it gets less worse…I can’t even use the word “better.”

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?

If it’s possible at all to avert our gaze from Gaza, looking north things have shifted dramatically, as the shocking fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has presented Israel with an interesting array of trickle-down consequences. Hezbollah’s leadership was eliminated, its fighting forces were heavily depleted by Israel, a ceasefire has held since late November, and the possibility of better outcomes in Lebanon is certainly on the table. The remains of Hezbollahs’ forces have generally vacated north of the Litani, the Lebanese Army has been filling that void in the south, and Israel continues to make incursions to destroy weapons stockpiles. We are all old enough to remember how Hezbollah has time and again regained its footing, but this time does feel different. May that feeling continue.

That being said, regime change and a power vacuum in Syria has led to the targeted killing of Alawites and the ascension of a new regime in Damascus that is trying to shed its jihadi past and redefine itself as a tolerant Islamist government. In recent weeks, steps toward national unity have been taken by diverse ethnic groups and a temporary constitution was enacted, so perhaps there is hope for stability on the Syrian side of the border. Israel and the Assads, for better or worse, had a shared interest in a quiet border for a half-century…I think we would all prefer that the new Syrian regime charts a similar course.

Question 2: Bottom line- is the new Syria good for Israel? 

Ever the pessimist, I’m hesitant to say yes. Let’s just hope it’s tolerable.

QatarGate

Did the Qatari government secretly funnel money to a member of Netanyahu’s inner circle? It appears that the Shin Bet believes it, which sent the PM’s office into a tizzy and led to the firing of Ronen Bar, the agency’s head. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett went even further, calling the allegations “treason” if proven to be true. There’s so much smoke here that there’s got to be a fire at the bottom of this mess, and knowing the players, I’ve got to believe it’s a raging inferno of serious realpolitik.

Question 3: But even if it’s true, will it even matter?

I’ll cut to the chase: nope. This will not impact the prime minister at all.

I (and usually we) have spent years assuming that the Netanyahu era was almost ever, and I (and we) keep being wrong; at this point I don’t think anything will change, no matter what. Court cases go on indefinitely, every scandal is replaced by the next, and Bibi remains in office as the democratically elected prime minister of the State of Israel. Make no mistake—Bibi will see out this government, and then we’ll see about the next one. 

Everyone watches women’s sports

As always, let’s end on a lighter note. Women’s basketball is here. It’s so here. I can name one, ONE, player in men’s college basketball, but when it comes to the women’s game, I can do way better- this is the Golden Age and it’s only getting more golden. I’m watching more women’s college hoops than men’s college hoops on the daily, and I’m getting ready for a banger of a WNBA summer again.

With that in mind, this year’s NCAA tournament on the women’s side features two significant Jewish storylines.

  1. Yarden Garzon, a 6-foot-3 guard from Ra’anana has already re-written the record books at Indiana University. In less than three seasons, she set a school record for career three-pointers and she still has more college basketball left to play—a career 40% shooter from distance, Garzon has sky-high potential. I look forward to seeing her senior year in Bloomington and her future in the pros…hopefully on this side of the Atlantic. Garzon took the court in the first round of the NCAA women’s tournament on March 21 when Indiana defeated Utah, but a second-round matchup against the defending champions from South Carolina ended up with Garzon on the short end of a 64-53 scoreline.
  2. In the women’s tournament, USC, coached by one-of-us Lindsey Gottlieb, has taken their #1 seed in the Spokane 4 region and booked a spot in the Sweet 16 against #5 seed Kansas State. Their chances for a national title have taken a significant hit with the season-ending injury to all-world guard JuJu Watkins, but the team is still loaded. Should both teams win, a titanic clash between the Trojans and UConn would be must-see TV in the Elite 8.

Which begs the necessary questions;

Question 4A: Will Lindsay Gottlieb lead USC to the national championship this year?
Question 4B: Will Yarden Garzon lead Indiana to the Final Four in 2026 in Phoenix?

As much as I’d like to say yes, both are unlikely. But here’s hoping.

And before we leave, I’d be remiss if I did not call attention to the three Jewish men’s coaches still in contention on the men’s side, including Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers, Jon Scheyer’s Duke Blue Devils, and Todd Golden’s Florida Gators. While Pearl’s post-game presser on March was an all-time Zionist moment and has won the hearts of Jewish basketball fans the world over, there is a very good chance that any of those three will be cutting down the nets in San Antonio in a few weeks.

Question 4C: Will a Jewish coach raise the NCAA championship trophy on the men’s side on April 7?

Yes.

Wishing you a Chag Kasher V’Sameach, and end to the war(s), the return of the hostages, and better times in the coming months for us all.

And may next year’s Four Questions be happier than these.

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