Why Bruce Pearl Refuses to Stay Silent About His Pro Israel Beliefs

Before he ever coached a college game or led Auburn to national prominence, Bruce Pearl was a seven-year-old boy watching history unfold through the eyes of his family.

A Childhood Memory That Shaped a Lifetime

Pearl recalls being just seven years old when he first understood the fragility of Israel’s existence. He described watching his grandfather cry during the Six-Day War in 1967, afraid that Israel might not survive the night. That memory stayed with him, grounding him in a sense of responsibility to both America and Israel, and in the meaning of “never again.”

This foundation, he explained was about survival, identity, and truth. “I don’t do what I do for political reasons,” Pearl said. “I do what I do for the survival of our people, to be able to teach the truth, tell the truth, the biblical truth, the historical truth, the realities on the ground.”

Pearl explains why he has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Israel in American sports, and why he feels compelled to use his platform to share that commitment, even when doing so comes with risk.

In this episode of the One Jewish State podcast, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman sits down with legendary Auburn Tigers basketball coach Bruce Pearl for a deeply personal conversation about faith, family, sports, and Israel.

Speaking Out When It Matters

Pearl acknowledged that in sports, as in entertainment, many are advised to avoid politics or controversial issues. Yet when asked about Israel, he has never hesitated to respond.

He credits Auburn University for giving him the freedom to speak as Bruce Pearl, not just as a coach, and sees it as his duty to be vocal when others might stay silent.

Standing with Edan Alexander

One of the most moving stories Pearl shares is what happened after a major NCAA playoff victory. In the locker room, overcome with emotion among his players, Pearl decided to use his postgame press conference to publicly call attention to the plight of American hostage and New Jersey native Edan Alexander.

It was an unusual and deeply personal moment — a college basketball coach stepping away from the spotlight of March Madness to highlight the suffering of one young man and his family.

For Pearl, it was not about mixing politics with sports, but about living up to the responsibility passed down to him: to speak the truth and to stand for Israel and the Jewish people.