The recent FIFA World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina became a surprising battleground for—what else?—the Israel-Palestine debate.

The Egyptian coach, who had been waving a Palestinian flag during the competition, grew frustrated when Argentinian fans began waving Israeli flags at him. It's the latest culmination of a longstanding anti-Zionist (and weirdly antisemitic) dislike of Argentinian star Lionel Messi, who has been accused of being a Jewish Zionist by Egyptian officials in the past. So is Messi an honorary Jew now? According to antisemites: yes he is. And you know what? Sure, we'll take him.

Outside of the soccer pitch, a Jewish baseball newcomer Cole Carrigg is making noise in Colorado; veteran Alysha Clark is still making appearances on WNBA courts; and Max Homa is enjoying a mid-season comeback on the greens. Our Jewish sports podcasters explain it all on the latest episode of Menschwarmers.

Plus: take a first listen to our brand new theme song by Kosha Dillz.

Credits

• Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Kosha Dillz

Support The CJN

• Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers
• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Menschwarmers

The FIFA World Cup has taken over Toronto, Vancouver and cities across the United States and Mexico. Here in Canada, its early days were marred by pro-Palestinian activists protesting Israel's membership in FIFA. Our sports podcasters ask: Do these people know Israel isn't competing in the World Cup?

FIFA head Gianni Infantino, meanwhile, is once again moving in the opposite direction, pushing to create a friendly match between Israel and Palestine's under-15 teams.

Both examples point to a bizarre trend: using the World Cup, a major sporting event spotlighting dozens of countries worldwide (none of which are Israel), to focus on Israel. Can we just focus on the sport, please?

Meanwhile, online trolls are injecting antisemitism into yet another sport that's largely devoid of Jews. After the New York Knicks won the NBA Championship last week, a strange amount of attention is being paid to its Jewish celebrity fans and their comments (Jerry Seinfeld)—or lack of comments (Alana Haim)—about Palestine.

The Menschwarmers dig into all this, plus Jalen Brunson's Jewish wife, the Carolina Hurricanes' Jewish general manager, and Belgium's Jewish-adjacent soccer goalie.

Credits

• Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Coby Lipovitch (intro), chēēZ π (main theme, " Organ Grinder Swing ")

Support The CJN

• Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers
• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Menschwarmers (Not sure how? Click here )

The Menschwarmers received an anonymous tip last year that a rising star in the NBA has Jewish heritage. We dug into it, and are the first to report that it is true: basketball star Chet Holmgren is ethnically Jewish.

Holmgren, the seven-foot centre for the reigning league champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, comes from a long line of deeply involved Jewish community members in Minneapolis, by way of his mother, Sarah Harris. Her father is Ray Harris, a prominent and respected developer who passed away in 2025; his celebration of life was held at Temple Israel Minneapolis, a Reform synagogue. (Ray's father—Holmgren's great-grandfather—was Leo Harris, a Polish Jewish immigrant who arrived in 1870 and wound up founding a company that dredged the Mississippi River locks.) Ray Harris's delightfully quirky obituary mentions his daughter Sarah and grandson Chet. Ray Harris's late wife, Alta Harris—Chet's maternal grandmother—passed in 2019, and her obituary also directs donations to Temple Israel.

In case there was any doubt that the whole Harris clan is Jewish, Chet's maternal uncle Dan Harris (brother of Sarah, son of Ray and Alta) also explicitly calls himself Jewish in a travel blog from 2016.

So there is no doubt that Chet Holmgren is ethnically, halachically Jewish. Whether or not he considers himself a member of the tribe is another question.

Currently playing in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season, in which he was named an All Star, Third Team All-NBA and First Team All-Defense—all for the first time in his young career. Having helped the Thunder win the championship title last year, Holmgren has found himself under an enormous spotlight fairly quickly.

Being openly Jewish, or even discussing his Jewish heritage, could invite hateful backlash. Holmgren got a taste of this last summer when a video emerged online of him working out at the gym of Shalhevet High School, an Orthodox Jewish school in Los Angeles, where many NBA stars like to practice, due to its high security and premium hardwood courts. (Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and James Harden have all worked out there.) In the video, Holmgren is seen shooting hoops with some Israeli flags in the background, leading to an onslaught of online insults, assumptions about his political leanings, and the epithet "Chetanyahu".

The CJN reached out to the Oklahoma City Thunder multiple times, but never received a response.

Given's Holmgren's immense success, the Menschwarmers felt it appropriate to celebrate Holmgren's heritage, and bring some Jewish joy to fellow Jewish NBA fans watching OKC's possible road to a repeat championship. In this episode, they break down what they learned about his family tree, discuss why it's understandable that he prefers to avoid the subject—and express hope that he will embrace it publicly.

Credits

• Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Coby Lipovitch (intro), chēēZ π (main theme, " Organ Grinder Swing ")

Support The CJN

• Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers
• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Menschwarmers (Not sure how? Click here )