Abstract
The chapter reexamines Tel Aviv East through the lens of temporal shifts, highlighting the evolving political and cultural meanings that shaped its reception across different contexts. Originally written in the mid 1960s, before the concept of the “Mizrahi neighborhood” had solidified in Hebrew and Mizrahi discourse, the novel depicts a loosely structured, liminal space within an incomplete national project. By the time of its eventual publication in 1998, the “Mizrahi neighborhood” had become central to Mizrahi identity and the broader Mizrahi struggle in Israel, with more explicit ethnic boundaries. By exploring the novel through these two historical moments, this chapter highlights the changing political and cultural interpretations of Mizrahi identity, revealing how literary works can be shaped by and respond to broader societal frameworks. It provides insights into the evolving representation of Mizrahi experiences and the intersections of space, ethnicity, and power in Israeli literature.