Hanukkah
A Jewish festival, commemorating the second century B.C. victory of the Israelite Maccabees against a much larger Greek-Assyrian force.
client state
A country that gets its support and protection from another more powerful country and operates under that country’s influence and control.
B’richa
Also Brihah. Formed in Poland in 1944, this group initially sought to help Jews get out of Poland. Later, in the absence of legal options for Jewish immigration to British-controlled Mandate Palestine, B’richa focused on helping Jews to immigrate illegally to Palestine through Italy. It is estimated that up to 150,000 Jews reached Palestine, later Israel, through this movement.
B’nai Akiva
Also Bnei Akiva. A Hebrew term meaning “Children of Akiva.” Founded in 1929 in Jerusalem, this Zionist youth movement combined Orthodox observance with practical skills.
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
In October 1956, widespread discontent with the authoritarian Soviet-backed communist regime in the People's Republic of Hungary led to a nationwide popular uprising. Student protests calling for greater political freedoms and independence from Soviet control were reinforced by broader discontent with economic conditions and repressive government policies. The protests quickly spread from Budapest throughout the country. A new government was formed under Imre Nagy, who promised reforms, including the withdrawal of Hungary from the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet-led counterpart to NATO). In early November, the Soviet Union launched a military intervention to crush the uprising, entering Budapest and other major Hungarian cities, where intense fighting ensued. Thousands were killed and wounded, arrested, or forced into exile. Some 200,000 Hungarians fled the country in the aftermath of the uprising. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was an important event in the history of the Cold War.