Sabra (person)

In Modern Hebrew, the terms (|singular form}}; ) and its plural (|plural form}}; ) refer to Jews born in the Land of Israel or the State of Israel. The word is derived from the Hebrew name for the prickly pear cactus, commonly transliterated into English as '. The usage of the term became widespread during the 1930s, when it was employed to denote a Jew whose birthplace was within the Land of Israel—corresponding to Ottoman Syria until 1918 () and Mandatory Palestine until 1948 (). The term may have been in use earlier.

The designation ' is associated with the imagery of the cactus, a plant characterized by its thorny exterior and soft interior. This metaphor has been used to describe Israeli-born Jews as outwardly tough but inwardly gentle. The concept is reflected in the figure of Srulik, a cartoon character that serves as a national personification of the State Israel.

By 2010, more than 70% of Israeli Jews were ''''. This proportion rose to 75% in 2015 and 80% in 2024. Provided by Wikipedia