The Samaritans: Not Muslim or Christian and Not Quite Jewish, Israel’s Smallest Ethnic Minority
The Samaritans — who now number fewer than 1,000 — are an ethnoreligious group originating from the ancient Israelites. In Israel, they are concentrated…
Israeli Culture: How to Define It? What Are Its Main Characteristics?
Although a sizeable majority of Jews in Israel today are native-born (sabras), most of them are descendants of immigrants from scores of countries around the world. The Israelis who made Aliyah brought with them at least a taste of the cultures in their countries of origin. Still, a distinct and unique “Israeli culture” has evolved…
Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Israeli Folk Dancing Must Go On!
Israeli folk dancing, one of the most enduring and endearing expressions of the Jewish state’s unique culture, remains highly popular to this day.
Habima: The National Theater of Israel and Heart of Tel Aviv’s Cultural Scene
Habima (‘the stage” in Hebrew) was founded in 1912 in Czarist Russia, where it was the target of antisemitic persecution. The company settled permanently in British Mandate Palestine in 1931; in 1945, its home theater was built in Tel Aviv. Since 1958, when it received the Israel Prize, Habima has been considered the national theater…
Shakshuka: A Savory Dish, Possibly Originating in North Africa, That Is an Israeli Favorite
Shakshuka (shakshouka) — which means “a mixture” or “shaken” in Tunisian Arabic — is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, and garlic, and commonly spiced with cumin, paprika, cyenne pepper, and nutmeg. There are many different recipes, however. Several theories have emerged about the origin of the…
To learn about these and many more AmazingJews, watch a compilation put together by JewOfTheWeek.net in 2015 and posted on YouTube.