Sabra

Sabra is a term with several meanings in Middle Eastern and Jewish contexts. In Hebrew, sabra refers to a native-born Israeli Jew. The term is often associated with the prickly pear cactus; as a metaphor, a sabra is said to be tough on the outside and sweet on the inside.

Sabra also denotes the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, which is edible and cultivated in Israel and the broader region. The imagery linked to the fruit underpins the social usage of the nickname for native Israelis.

Geography: Sabra is the name of a neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1982, during the Lebanese Civil War, the Sabra and Shatila massacre occurred when Lebanese Phalangist militias killed hundreds of Palestinian refugees in the two camps near the neighborhood; the Israeli military had facilitated the assault.

Brands and people: Sabra Dipping Company is a brand of hummus and other dips, produced by a venture originally between Strauss Group (Israel) and PepsiCo; the brand is widely distributed in North America and elsewhere. Sabra is also used as a feminine given name in Hebrew-speaking communities and in various other cultures.

Overall, Sabra is a multifaceted term spanning ethnicity, botany, geography, and commerce, with the common thread of cultural and regional associations rooted in the Hebrew language and Middle Eastern history.