Israel is a nation of immigrants—a thin stretch of land where Jews from every corner of the globe suddenly found themselves huddled together. In the early decades of the state, the Ashkenazi elite (hailing from Eastern and Central Europe) viewed themselves as a "modernizing, civilizing force." To them, Jews arriving from Middle Eastern and North African countries were often seen as "primitive" relics of the past. Yet, this was a complex relationship: even as they sought to "modernize" these...

Short Illustrated Stories Written by Beginner Hebrew Students

Dear This Is Not An Ulpan community, This year, three holidays arrive almost together: Passover, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr. Three traditions, three histories - yet all speak the shared language of liberation. Passover tells of escape from slavery. Easter speaks of resurrection after violence and death. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month of endurance and reflection. Each reminds us: oppression is not final, suffering is not the end, and human beings can imagine freedom even in the...