ized taxi service, along the exact routes of the busses). The law forbids the raising of pigs in all parts of the country except those where Christian Arabs constitute a local majority (yet one can easily buy pork anywhere in Israel, and pork steaks-euphemistically called "White steaks" or "French steaks"-can be clandestinely obtained at Tel Aviv steak-stands).
It is a situation of many paradoxes, with controversy and clashes, extremely irritating to the vast majority of the people. Yet these same people accept the situation as natural and inevitable, forced to this conclusion by the concept of oneness of religion and nation. Only the repudiation of this concept by Israeli nationalism, an evergrowing factor in Israeli life, will eventually lead to Israel's becoming a normal secular state.
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Religion also plays a great role-even if a largely unconscious one-in the demographic dynamism of Israel. Any foreigner coming to Israel is immediately struck by the incredible variety of racial types in the streets. There are Jews of many colors, all the way from Nordic white to Ethiopian black, with many shades of brown in between. Ours is obviously a very non-racial kind of society.
Anyone considered a Jew is easily absorbed in Israel. While it is quite true that much hidden, often unconscious, discrimination exists between the communities, one should not exaggerate its importance. Jews of European descent, generally called Ashkenazim (from the Hebrew name for medieval middle and northern Europe) may look with condescension upon Jews of Mediterranean and Eastern descent, generally called Sephardim (from Sepharad, the Hebrew name for Spain). These are considered culturally inferior and educationally backward, and Ashkenazi parents will often object to their offspring marrying Sephardim. Yet discrimination like this exists in many countries: a comparison which comes to mind is the attitude of Northern Italians toward their Sicilian compatriots. The