A controversial civics textbook accused of portraying the left as “more humane” is also offensive to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The book, used in hundreds of classrooms, was slammed this week for referring to immigrants from the former USSR as “mehagrim,” a term usually used for job seekers, rather than “olim,” the term normally used for those with Jewish roots who come to the Jewish homeland.
Also offensive were statements such as, “Immigration from the former Soviet Union was unique in that it was secular and largely non-Zionist, with immigrants’ motives for leaving their land of birth primarily financial in nature.” The book also erroneously referred to immigrants from the former USSR who are not Jewish according to halacha (Jewish law) as “primarily Christian, but some have no religion,” when in fact only a minority are Christian, and many identify as Jewish.