3 Iyar 5691 – April 20 1931
Jerusalem
“We […] are the sabra leaves!” crowed journalist Uri Kesari in the Do’ar Ha-yom daily, referring to himself and his contemporaries. Until then, the term “sabra” had been used by the Holy Land’s modern colonists to deride the younger generation. Kesari called for those born in the land of Israel to adopt the term with pride. “Our bodies and spirit form a fence protecting and sheltering our land.” Though this strain of cactus isn’t native to the area, it has come to symbolize Israeli youth – rough on the outside but sweet and soft within.