The Guide to Israel

584 Pages·1960·72.944 MB·English

by  Zev Vilnay

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012
http://archive.org/details/guidetoisrealOOviln

Zev Vilnay
THE
GUIDE
TO
ISRAEL
Enlarged and Revised Edition
With over 500 Illustrations
And a General Map of Israel
THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Published byTheWorld Publishing Company
2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio
Published simultaneously in Canada by
Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.
Library of Congress Catalog CardNumber: 60-5811
Revised Edition Copyright© I960 by Zev Vilnay.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
in any form without written permission from the publisher,
except for brief passages included in a review appearing
in a newspaperormagazine. Printed in Israel.
Central Prees, Jerusalem
PREFACE
There is no country in the world so rich in contrasts, so
varied in appearance and moods as the tiny Land of Is-
rael. In every phase of life, in nature and population, in
town and country, in farm and factory, are found seem-
ingly incompatible phenomena.
The varied topography and the diverse climate have
wrought contrasts in its nature, soil, flora and fauna.
Within its bo—rders is the unique geographical feature of
the Dead Sea the lowest spot on the globe. The peculiar
location of the land between sea and desert, as well as
its dynamic history, have caused contrasts not only in
the natural appearance of the country, but in the life of
its colourful inhabitants, their mode of living, beliefs, re-
ligions and traditions.
The country offers an almost limitless range of attrac-
tions for visitors from all countries and all denomina-
tions, and for followers of different faiths and beliefs
Here you retrace the steps of the immortals of the Holy
Bible who lived at the dawn of history and directed the
course of humanity. Here you behold the landscapes, the
very places where ideas were born which remain the
eternal pride of mankind. You may stand at historical
sites and holy places whose names have been familiar to
you since your childhood, and through this proximity
experience a spiritual satisfaction that you will cherish
forever.
The changes that transformed mankind took place here
at the source and core of ancient history. You may ob-
serve many of history's finest exhibits: her ruins, for-
tresses, roads and battlefields on which the fate of na-
tions was sealed.
Here in the Land of Israel you will find interesting
geological formations, and endemic species of plants and
animals. Here, too, converge various biological and phy-
togeographical zones of the world. If you like hiking ex-
4 Preface
cursions, you can find wild and picturesque regions,
winding and twistingravines and gorges,crownedbyhigh
cliffs, and lofty summits overlooking beautiful pano-
ramas.
In the Land of Israel you behold a nation of remnants
gathered from all parts of the world restored to a new
life; an Utopian dream of many generations becoming a
living reality; an ingathering of the near and the far, of
a multiplicity of cultures and tongues, fused into one
Hebrew culture. A language which was confined exclu-
sively to the Holy Scriptures for hundreds of years has
been restord, absorbing all the innovations of modern
life. Monuments to the fallen in battle mark the land-
scape, a mute testimony to the pain a—nd ordeals suffered
for the re-birth of the State of Israel now a member of
the family of nations.
Every excursion, short or long, impresses you with
striking contrasts. Her—e you see new settlements with
their red-tiled houses a product of our modern age;
nearby the mediaeval-oriental charm of dwellings with
domed roofs. You may see a camp of Beduin with their
black tents—, living the same pastoral —life lived by our
Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the dawn of
civilization. Along the highways speed the latest model
automobiles and trucks, a train rushes by, its engine puf-
fing noisily, and at the same time a caravan of camels
plods leisurely along led by a small thin donkey ... A
short distance away, against the clear horizon, on the
cres—t of a steep peak, an ancient fortress dots the blue
sky solitary witness of the numerous wars that ravaged
the country in days gone by. Here and there, round
mounds mark sites where once flourished—great cities that
governedthelandandmouldedits history and now only
heaps of dust and ashes remain. Beside some of them
you see the camp of an archaeological expedition eager
to uncover the secrets of the past, which the accumulated
soil of silent generations has hidden. And there, not too
Preface 5
far away, young pioneers are building a new home for
their own generation and those to follow them.
The Land of Israel is indeed the meeting place of
Orient and Occident, of East and West, North and South,
old and new, parochial and secular. Here intermingle
desert and civilization, tradition and culture, past and
future, reality and vision. Memories and hopes fuse into
one, for is this not the land of prophecy?
The aim of this Guide to Israel is to direct the visitor,
tourist and traveller along the highways and byways of
the life of the country and to introduce him to all its
many faces.
*
I wish to express my gratitude to my wife Esther for
her collaboration and her devoted help in preparing the
manuscript for publication.
Jerusalem—1955 ZEV VILNAY
In consideration of the swift progress of Israel this second
edition has been set anew to enable the inclusion of all the
transformations and innovations that took place in the country
since "Israel Guide" first appeared two years ago. This enlarg-
ed and revised edition includes the latest developments in the
towns and villages, a description of the most recent settlements,
an account of new economic achievements and a full report
of the new highways and roads.
The most recent discoveries in archaeological excavations and
researches are brought out in detail and about 100 illustrations
have been added to illuminate the new findings. The General
Map of the country attached to the book was compiled anew
and revised by the Survey of Israel.
Jerusalem—1958 Z.V.
This new 1960 edition includes the changes that have taken
place in Israel since the last edition appeared. There also has
been added a very detailed directory which contains practical
instructions and a complete list of all the settlements arranged
in alphabetical order, with indication of the exact position of
each, its place on the map and the roads leading to it. There
also has been added the telephone numbers of the main insti-
tutions in the towns (municipality, police, posts, tourist offices)
and of the central administration office in rural settlements.
Jerusalem—1960 Z.V.
PREFACE
3-5
ISRAEL—GENERAL SURVEY 10-90
The Country
Israel and its Neighbours 11
Israel: Structure and Regions 12
Climate and Rainf—all 15
Natural Resources Oil Drilling 16-20
Economic Survey: Agriculture, Industry, Commerce 21
.
Population: Jews, Moslems, Christians, Druzes, Bahais 28
Forms of Settlements: Urban and Rural 36
Settlements and Settlers 38
Political parties in Israel 40
Monasteries and Churches 43
Daily Press in Israel 46
Historical and Sacred Sites 47
Chronological Table 48
The State
Proclamation—of Israel Independence 53
The Knesset Israel's Parliament 56
The Government and its Ministers 57
The Legal System in Isra—el (Dr. S.S. Cheshin) ... 57
Tsahal—The Israel Army The Police in Israel 63-66
. . .
Regional Division of Israel 68
Currency in Israel 69
Measures and Weights Harbours and Airports ... 73
Railways in Israel 74
Posts, Telephone and Telegraph Broadcasting in Israel 75
Languages in Israel 76
Hebrew and Moslem Calendars 77
Hotels and Hostels 78
....
Oriental Foods. The Sabra—The Prickly pear 80
Hebrew and Arabic Glossaries 81-83
Once in the Holy Land 84
ROUTES IN ISRAEL 91-500
—
Jerusalem Bethlehem
Roads to—Jerusalem 92
Jerusalem Capital of Israel 92
Visits in New Jerusalem 95-132
''EEiinn KKaarreemm—ofBaSrt.-GJioyhonrat—heMeBvaop-tBiesittar 113362--113376
Mount Scopus: Hadassah—Hebrew University .... 137-139
Jerusalem—the Old City 139-150
Bethlehem: Church of the Nati—vity 150-156
Jerusalem Tel-Aviv
— —
Jerusalem M—otsa Kir—yat-Ye'arim (Abu-Ghosh) . . 157
Sha'ar-Hagai Eshtaol Beit-Shemesh 162