Once upon a time, there used to be a strong distinction between Israelis born in the country and those who had immigrated from elsewhere to live in Israel. The locally-born Israelis were seen to be tougher, out of necessity. Much of that has changed, because everybody needs to be strong here, possibly particularly newcomers (!), but the term “Sabra” still arises.
It started around the 1930s and during waves of immigration both before and after WWII. A certain shame surrounded Jews who were often viewed as too compliant during the Nazi era— they should have fought back, they should have risen up, they should never have allowed themselves to be herded into ghettos, and later, into concentration camps. Who knew? The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 contradicted the notion that Jews never resisted, but by many, it was seen as too little, too late. Nothing like blaming the victims!
Because of this, both pre-Statehood (1948) and post-Statehood residents of the Jewish homeland had to be tough to survive difficult conditions. They developed a survivor’s type of strength that was clearly unapologetic. Brash, bold and committed to building a new land, the native-born Jewish inhabitants were known to be both rough and tough—draining malarial swamps, repelling Arab raids, working the rocky land to produce agricultural products. Their children developed similar characteristics.
This native-born Israeli became known as a Sabra (SAH-bra) or Tzabar (tzah-BAR) in Hebrew. It referred to the prickly pear cactus, growing strong in the hot desert sun. The plant proved to be tough on the outside, but full of sweetness on the inside. In Arabic, “Tsabr” means perseverance. Occasionally used to refer to stubborn, straightforward, blunt, pushy, argumentative people—there were locals who milked the analogy as an excuse to ignore good manners entirely!
Today, “Sabra” is a badge reflecting 75% of the population as native-born, and a label they wear with pride. But the fact is, the heart of gold and sweetness are there, as well. Native-born Israelis may possess a hard exterior out of necessity, but they would do anything to help at the drop of a hat.
I have experienced this repeatedly, myself, and can vouch for Israeli kindness ranging from helping to pop open the hood of my car and take a look, to a welcome-to-the-neighborhood basket, to driving or parking directions, to shopping advice when searching for an obscure item. I have been offered a prayer book during war, health advice in a cafe, and random invitations to coffee, meals, weddings, bar mitzvahs and circumcisions (yikes!).
This is Israel, where no one is a stranger and where the desert blossoms… with Sabras!
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