Members of the St. Louis Maccabi basketball team got a visit from Jewish college basketball analyst Bruce Pearl on June 3. Pearl, who is town for an appearance at The Men’s Event, took time out from his schedule to offer some advice and counsel to a dozen young Jewish athletes at the Jewish Community Center. Pearl told them that in spite of a rise in antisemitism, they should embrace Judaism.

“I could either take my chai and tuck it into my jersey or I could be loud and proud, and I just kind of liked representing our people,” Pearl said. “I was a Jewish basketball coach. That motivated me to a higher standard. You’ve got to be the toughest, you’ve got to be the strongest, you’ve got to be the most generous, and the kindest.

“I took my team to Israel,” he said. “I want my Christian players to know Jesus better than they’ve ever known him before and live an unbelievable Christian life. I’ve had Jewish players, and I want my Jewish players to embrace their faith and to live a Jewish life.”