Ancient Synagogue, Sunken Harbor
Excite Archaeologists in Caesarea

•

—An American 'Jewish Press Photo

Historically significant Caesarea also brought to light an
ancient synagogue. Dr. Michael Avi-Yonah, lecturer in
archaeology at the Hebrew University and director of excava-
tions at Caesarea, here is seen inspecting a carved menorah
which was recently unearthed near the seashore. Dr. Yonah's
discovery is one of several to be found in and about Caesarea,
ancient city in biblical times.

*

(Copyright, 1956, JTA, Inc.)

WASHINGTON — About 1950
years ago a magnificent city of
fabulous wealth was erected
and named Caesarea after Cae-
sar Augustus.
Archaeological treasures from
this once-glorious city have now
been found in Israeli waters,
the America-Israel Society in
Washington has made known.
The discovery was made by
husband and wife Edwin and
Marion Link, noted American
underwater explorers. Their ex-
pedition was sponsored by the
-society.
The Links set out for Israel in
September equipped with only
a clue and a theory. The clue
was presented by Israeli fisher-
men, who, in their pursuit of a
good catch, were netting fish
and hundreds of ancient jars as
well. The theory was advanced
by Israeli archaeologists who
thought the jars were necessary
utensils for ancient ships which
probably were wrecked and now
buried in the sea not far from
the areas where the jars were
found.
When the . Links recently
returned here following -a 10-
day search in Israeli waters,
they reported that a stcl..e-
house of archaeological treas-
ures submerged off the Israeli
Mediterranean coast are just
awaiting recovery.
At Caesarea, the Links found
a sunken harbor, huge marble
blocks, a well-preserved Roman
stone coffin, jugs, and evidences
of many other artifacts. At
Acre, they came upon an in-
scribed tablet on the harbor
floor. And at the Sea of Galilee,
they discovered two wooden
boats. At all these points, the
Links believe that drifted sand
has preserved • much more than
they found -on their initial and
limited expedition.
The Links plan to return to
Israel in the Fall of 1957 for a
full-scale expedition. But quite

*

*

apart from speculatory me-
anderings, definite things can
already be said about the find.
The rescued objects can be
identified, dated, and thereby
increase interest and knowledge
of the past.
The sunken harbor of Caesa-
rea which the Links uncovered
was originally built by Herod
the Great who governed Judea
for Rome. The huge marble
blocks at Caesarea have been
identified as the foundation for
a tremendous colossus erected
by Herod. It was Herod, ac-
cording_ to the -ancient historian
Flavius Josephus, who turned a
decayed seaside city into a place
worthy of dedication to Rome.
- Somewhere between 38
C.E. and 110 C.E., Josephus
writes: ". . . he (Herod) set
about planning a magnificent
city (Caesarea) there, and
erected many edifices with
great care all over it of white
stone. He also. adorned it with
the most sumptuous palaces
. . . and what was the greatest
and Most laborious work of
all, he adorned it with a
haven. (the now sunken har-
bor) sheltered from the waves
of_ the sea . . "
Josephus speaks about the
beautiful to w e r s erected on
these stones, of underwater
vaults and cellars and a seaside
amphitheater. This suggests
there is more to look for and
perhaps more to find.
At 'the Sea of Galilee, the
Links found the wooden boats
in such an excellent state of
preservation.. to -suggest that
other well preserved relics
could be found—possibly some
dating back to the time St.
Peter did his fishing there.
Surely there is much and seem-
ingly many • more surprises to
be brought up . from the Israeli
waters. which—like the Dead
Sea Scrolls — will be talked
about for a long time.

ginimminwp
The Jewish Quiz Box . • SAME al LAIJ313FOX

Question: Where is the best
place for the Menorah of
Hanukah in the home?

Originally, the Rabbis ad-
vised that the Menorah be
placed near the door, to the left
as one entered. This was done
for two reasons. Firstly, the
doorway was a place that could
be seen by passers-by and one
of the cardinal objectives of
Hanukah is to publicize the
miracle that happened during
the days of the Maccabees with
the cruse of oil.
Secondly, placing the Men-
orah to the left of the doorway
would bring about a condition
where anyone who crossed the
doorway would find the Mezu-
zah on his right and the Men-
orah at his left. This gave the
impression of being encircled
with good deeds and good
omens wherever one turned.
*
*
Question: Is there any rea-
son for the total number of

candles which are lit during
Hanukah?
The total number of candles
lit (besides the Shammas which
is lit every night as an extra
candle) comes to 36. This num-
ber had special significance
when it came to the subject of
light. When Adam was first
created — on Friday — he ob-
served 36 hours of light, since
the first eve of the Sabbath did
not bring darkness to this world.
Darkness did . not prevail until
Saturday night. The restoration
of the Temple in the days of the
Maccabees was like the restora-
tion of the original light of the
world which lasted 36 hours.
*
*
Question: Why is it that the
candles are set up from the
right and lit from the left?
In Kabbalistic sources the
right always was the source of
purity and goodness. In lighting
the candles, however,- one starts
with the newest candle, the one
which was added for tonight, to

show that an added night of
miracle had occurred. The new-
est candle is, of course, the
candle on the extreme left, and
so it is lit first.
*
Question: Why is the Scrip-
ture Reading for the week of
Hanukah chosen froth the
Book of Numbers where the
account of the offerings of the
princes of the tribes of Israel
is related?
This reading called, "Parshas
Na-Neseeim" (the portion of
the princes) is read because the
sanctuary in the desert was
completed on the 25th day of
Kislev, which is the day of
Hanukah. Its dedication brought
special offerings f r o m the
princes. Since the festival of
Hanukah is a festival of re-
dedication, this portion was felt
fitting and proper. The reading
is thus split up so that the of-
ferings of another prince would
be read on each of the eight
days of Hanukah.

Lights of the Hanukah Festival Given Added Meaning

By HAROLD U. RIBALOW

(Copyright, 1956, JTA, Inc.)

Hanukah, one of the liveliest
festivals of the Jewish calendar,
is an eight-day feast which,
until recent years, was not a
major holiday to observant Jews
but a pleasant festival corn-
mernorating the military vic-
tory of an oppressed folk.
For centuries, it was a happy
eight-day affair v‘rhich remind-
ed Jews all over the world of
heroism on the battlefield, of
the struggle between Hellenism
and Judaism, and it kept the
Jews aware of Hanukah as an
event which marked the mar-
tyrdom of human beings on the
altar of freedom of conscience.
More recently, however, the
festival has t a k en on more
significant meaning f or our
time. - The State of Israel was
established under circumstances
startlingly similar to those ex-
isting in the - days of the Jews
of Hanukah times. The heroism
of modern Jews of Israel has
been compared with the accom-
plishments of the Maccabees,
the heroes of Hanukah. Thus,
Hanukah today is marked as a
major holiday.

What is even more pertinent
is the fact that Israel today
is again faced with enemies
who would like to wipe her off
the face of the earth. The an-
cient foe, Egypt, remains im-
placable in its animosity.

Other Arab nations, incapablethe
I
"stiff-necked people," the
of destroying Israel at its birth, Jews, who rejected Hellenism
have not given up hopes of as a way of life. And
so war
doing so in the future, and when
headlines shriek a c r o s s the began.
pages of the American press,
Antiochus sent a powerful
the ancient names roll off the army into Palestine to root out
pages: Egypt, Syria, the Sinai
Peninsula, and other historic the Jewish God. The Temple
and traditional areas, in which was t urn e d into a Grecian
so much Hebrew history is to house of worship. Jews forbid-
be discovered.
den to observe Jewish laws
Hanukah has also been mark- and customs—and when they
ed in the United States with persisted, death was their re-
Hanukah Festivals in various ward. It was at this critical
cities, sponsored by the Israel point in the history of man that
Bond Organization, and these the first martyrs for -freedom of
celebrations have served to re- conscience sprang up to fight.
emphasize the immediacy of
An aggressive family arose in
Hanukah's lesson which proves the land: f i v e brothers, a n
that one must fight for one's her o i c father. After a few
freedom and for one's independ- brushes with an over-confident
ence, even as Israel fights for- foe, the rebel army entered the
hers.
Temple—on the 25th day of
The issue of Jewish freedom Kislev, the day Hanukah begins
is as live right now as it was and rededicated the altar with
1900 years ago. Hanukah is not great ceremony.
a glib holiday; it contains no
The war had just started. The
pat phrases, no facile jingoism.
This fete commemorates a con- rest of the story is history: how
flict between the Hasmoneans- the small armies of Judah Mac-
that is, the Jewish people— cabee defeated, with guile and
with great military strategy,
and Antiochus Epiphanes, who
all the armies of the - Syrian
represented the Hellenistic way
overlord. The feats . of Judah
of life.
were so impressive that he 'is
The Grecian rulers of Syria today ranked with the 25 out-
saw in Hellenism a method of standing military leaders in
unifying all of its slave states. world history (and a bas: relief
In forcing this new order down of him exists at West Point to
the throats of the conquered give further evidence 'of his
nations, the Syrians met with reputation).

Who's the Hero? (For Hanukah—A 3-Voice Round)

A 3-Voice Round

proudly

inr11111111111•ONIMINIPIIIIIIR

.
J
Who's the he

a
...........•
. *-1•1
r t ,,,,.
„i

•••••...

ro

of

the - sto - ry .

-
How the Jews were

._.

...
....•
•••••=111grin•LR5
....EMI

••••••,:*•••
',.,
UM 1101•01, IMIIIMIIV,4•M• 4...1••••1101, .

•

LS
X••••• =MIN4V•11
war•mt- Icumaz,atawaimi

...omarast•

'

111•••••14
0•111•111•111•111=1•1•1••••• •••••
■
••••••••••• ■ ••••1^. NAME
srintwomemis ■ ammaLimme
v■ L,
..
nor Ammam. -- JIMINIM11•11•0111111..

•1

1

► 11•1•11•11•11•••=1 MIR,

6****•*.

111=11•• ■ ••••
■ ousamato•
Mr , BIWO.

New Irrigation Pipeline to Negev
Being-Built With Israel Bond Aid

a

•

•
Nnii48•••••.,•••••••••••
■

•111•1••••=el •

•LII•••111M•MINIMIni•••••111111111111111

State of Israel Development Bonds funds are being used to
bring vital supplies of water to the parched earth of the Negev,
where Israel is establishing new agricultural settlements and
projects. Shown here are workmen covering a section of a new
irrigation pipeline being constructed from fire Yarkon River to
the Eastern Negev by the Mekoroth Water Company.

Who's the mad king in the story,
How the Jews were crowned with glory?
Antiochus, Antiochus.

•
■ rrotrur• ■ ••up-amormarme
MNIMEIMINI
11••••.,
••• ■ •••=r7. Man MINIM ,

■ 11.Mill••••111•11MMUMONNINI•

11111•111GL.

•

I ■ •N i !•••1:=1
. .

rs•

• ,Almam•

:

How do we recall the story,
How the Jews were crowned with glory?
Candles tell us. Candles tell us.

From "Songs to Share" by Rose B. Goldstein, piano settings by Reuven Kosakoff, and
illustrations by E. Schloss, published by United Synagogue of America. Serialized by
American Jewish Press.

