Sabra (Hebrew: צבר) is a slang term used to describe a native-born Israeli Jew.^[1] The word is derived from the Hebrew word tzabar, the name of the "prickly pear" cactus (also known as the "cactus pear"), Opuntia ficus-indica. The allusion is to a tenacious, thorny desert plant with a thick hide that conceals a sweet, softer interior i.e., tough on the outside, sweet and tender on the inside. “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ... Species Many, see text Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae. ... Genera See Taxonomy of the Cactaceae A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses or cactus) is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Being nicknamed “sabra” is describing Israeli’s- Rough on the outside, tender and sweet within. Israelis have seen bloodshed, in wars, in suicide bombings, in the history of the Jewish people. Most men and women still go to the army (IDF) at age 18- 3 years for men, 19 months for women. Many men go yearly thereafter to serve in the reserve units. Even if they don’t end up serving in violence prone zones, boot camp is very rigorous. This reality likely hardened the people of Israel and is one of the possible reasons Israeli's are known for being very forward, in your face, and having a "take no bullshit and cut the crap" type of attitude. It is just a hide. Underneath, they can be very kind, warm and sweet once you get to know them.