Indiana Hillel shows support for Israeli IU basketball player in ‘Blue Out’ game

Bloomington, Indiana – During Sunday’s women’s game, Indiana Hillel, a Jewish group, demonstrated its support for Israel and an Israeli IU basketball player.

The organization supported Israeli-born IU sophomore guard Yarden Garzon by holding a “Blue Out.” She has emerged as one of the team’s best players and has shown her support for Israel in public.

Social media was used by Indiana Hillel to share images from the game against Stetson University.

Leaders of the group say it handed out more than 500 free shirts, reading, “We stand with Yarden, We stand with Israel.”

Ahead of the game, the organization posted on Facebook, “IU Women’s Basketball Game BLUE OUT. Join IU Hillel and Chabad IU to show support for Israel and our own Israeli Hoosier, Yarden Garzon. Hillel and Chabad are sponsoring a BLUE OUT at the IU Women’s Basketball game.”

IU defeated Stetson University 72–34 to win the match.

A week-long truce expired on Monday, as Israel resumed evacuations and extended ground operations to the southern part of Gaza. The Israeli military has declared its intention to destroy Hamas, whose strike on October 7th in Israel led to the bloodiest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades.

According to IU Hillel’s website, since 1938, the group “has created a warm, welcoming, caring Jewish family and community that celebrates Judaism and Jewish life. We support and honor the diversity of the Jewish student community at IU, and are committed to its maintenance and continuity.”