Barak Swarttz

He was just sharing what his boots on the ground reality was.

Yeah, it's crazy that even you asked me that.

That to me is a really interesting example of the disconnect.

Not that you don't know, but I think a lot of people share that same sentiment.

When I would go back to Israel, there would be people who would hit me up on Facebook or Instagram and be like, you good?

Like, you sure you good, bro?

And it's like...

this is why i believe in storytelling so i'm i'm again i'm this like basketball coach who has this really deep connection to israel from childhood now i live there in a very complicated place but when i step outside of tel aviv it's like my my house

People have this idea that like I'm ducking from like bullets and that there's... I feel safer in Israel than I do in the United States of America.

Wow.

And I'm a white Caucasian saying that, right?

So I walk around with like, you know, this white privilege that I don't necessarily love because a lot of people don't have the same experience that I do in the United States of America.

And I for sure...

By the way, ask Pat this next time you talk to him.

Ask him where he feels safer.

I've seen so many hoopers, so many basketball players come into Israel and they all say that.

Jewish, Christian, it doesn't even matter who you are.

There is an energy there that...

has a protection field that I think a lot of people are integrated into when they step off the plane.

And none of that is seen on social media.