Rothenberg's 'God's Wilderness' Is 1st
Published Report on Sinai Exploration

states that the results of these whose existence had never pre-
expeditions are published for viously been suspected."
the first time in his book.
This, indeed, is part of the
The author's intention, we great revelation in this im-
are informed, "was not so much mensely important book: that it
to place before him an illus- reveals an ancient life that was
trated text-book on the history thriving, and settlements that
and Geography of Sinai, as to dotted the Negeb.
convey to him something of the
By means of photographs and
genius loci, of the unique atmo- inspired reports on the results
sphere that pervades these deso- of the explorations, we learn a
late expanses and broods mys- great deal about the world of
teriously over these mighty sand that hides an ancient civi-
granite mountains."
lization, about figs that were
On more than one occasion,
buried in the sands, about the
Rothenberg writes, he found
physiognomy of the people who
himself compelled to adjust
anteceded the present Bedouin
his preconceived notions of population.
the country and its people to
The explorer takes us to
the evidence of his camera.
"holy soil," to historic spots
"Biblical associations," he as-
in the area under description,
serts, "yielded to the visual
to the "life-giving waters of
reality. For example, after
Kadesh," to the area where
much searching for the Bib-
"the Israelites maintained the
lical fountain of Marah we
tradition of holiness with
eventually reached the spring
which the area was invested
of Ain Hawara. Previous trav-
and 'the waters of Meriba-
ellers had described this as a
Kadesh' " which was marked
'beautiful spring of water,'
by divine effulgence.
but the camera recorded a
Aqueducts a n d reservoirs
scene of desolation, a solitary,
dismal palm-tree in a sea of passed under review and the
history of old becomes more
swirling sand dunes. The
understandable as it becomes
sense of disillusion was pro-
more linked with the present.
found. Even so, in my inner-
"In the Footsteps of the Pil-
most being I had 'lived' some-
thing that was quite different grims," the explorers find first-
class roads, as well as an abun-
from the photographic record:
'the waters of Marah' of the dance of ruins. sherds and many
NI I= =I NM INII
circular
stone structures. And
Exodus from Egypt."
"at twilight the great wilder-
of
Explaining
the
sub-titling
I
ness assumes an aspect of sur-
the book as "Discoveries in
beauty. There is a con-
I Sinai," the author states that passing
stant change of colors: pink,
it was "not because of the brown, purple: and with the
archaeological discoveries made lengthening shadows a constant
by the various Israel expedi- change of scene. Time stands
tions, including my own, but still." •
U because
innumerable Israelis of
descriptions and
I the present generation who the Aharoni's
accompanying photographs
were privileged to follow 'in the
I footsteps' of their Israelite an- additionally enlighten the read-
when you give Barton's
cestors discovered in Sinai the er on the past as it is linked
chocolates, c a n d i e s,
rock whence they were hewn." with the present, about the nu-
pastries. Choose from I
His camera, indeed, "supplied merous Christian sects. their
our big, new selection.
the most important material" monks and monasteries. in the
for his notebook, which shows Kadesh-Barnea Sinai area.
This week's feature:
I pictures of objects and sites not For students of archaeology
previously photographed. Many ; these studies will be eye-open-
I of
the sites, as the author-pho- ers, but they will intrigue
tographer indicates, were re- Christian theologians who will
gain a vast amount of knowl-
vealed for the first time.
The reader is taken by the edge about the early sanctu-
aries and their inhabitants in
researchers en route steep
the Holy Land.
slopes, through the desert,
Similarly enlightening is the
atop many hills. New discov-
portion of the book by Hashim-
eries are in evidence. In his
shoni about the surveying and
reference to the plain of
exploring the Jeziret Fara'un
Rekhme, which was chosen
area south of Eilat. Ancient
for the erection of a sanctu-
walls were uncovered. and evi-
ary of old, Rothenberg states:
dences of activities of a peace-
I i "I pictured to myself the busy
ful nature. Events related to
• I life that must have gone on
the Ottoman rule and to the
here at various periods in
ALMOND KISSES 1 the long history of the Negeb, periods of the Crusaders are
delineated.
and I asked my companions:
Two crisp toasted almonds
netled in creamy chocolate I
'Is it conceivable that an area
"God's Wilderness" is a great
caramel. Individually cello-
as thickly settled and popu- book that enriches the explora-
phane-wrapped.
I lated
as Tell Rekhme should
tory findings of recent years. It
1 lb. $1.95
- have been completely passed
is one of the great guides to the
over in the Bible?' It was not
ancient Holy Land for archae-
till later, when I was putting
ologists. and laymen as well
my Sinai experiences into
will be intrigued by the stories
writing, that a possible an-
so well told and so excellently
144.4totitAt I swer to my question occurred
illustrated in this magnificent
I to me: the name Rekhme, work.
Exclusively at
which has no lexical signifi-
I cance, of course, in Arabic, 86 U.S. Students
is simply an echo of the name
I Jerahmeal,
a n d the Tell Leave for Israel
I Rekhme area (the modern
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Eighty-
At 10 Mile Rd.
Kefar
Jeroham)
is simply the six high school and college stu-
Across from
I
'Negeb
of
the
Jerahmee-
Dexter Davison Mkt.
dents from 13 states departed
lites.'"
for Israel in the sixth annual
18309 Wyoming nr. Curtis
The author adds that "the Yeshiva University "Youth Sum-
Barton's Confections and
discovery of remains in the arid mer in Israel" program. Included
Baked Delicacies Are Also
Available at Crowley's I region of the Negeb wadis had in the tour are participants from
come as a major surprise to all New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Street Floor.
of us, as did the subsequent fill- Connecticut, Maryland, Massachu-
OPEN SUNDAYS
ing-in on the map, in the course setts, Kansas, Colorado, New Jer-
I
AND EVENINGS
of a few years' surveying, of sey, Michigan, Oklohamo, Ohio
numerous historic settlements and Florida, as well as Canada.
um nu nue INN OM NM

With the Bible as his "faith-
ful companion," Beno Rothen-
berg has explored the Sinai
Peninsula, and the result of his
research and his photographic
work is an immense book,
'God's Wilderness—Discoveries
in Sinai," published by Thomas
Nelson and Sons (18 E. 41st,
NY 17).
The great undertaking de-
scribed in this large volume
was done in collaboration with
Yohanan Aharoni and Avia
Hashimshoni. It was translated
from the Hebrew by Joseph
Witriol.
The 96 pages of text are sup-
plemented by 90 photogravure
plates and 16 maps and plans of
ancient installations.
The Sinai Notebook, giving
the major over-all view of
the Sinai research project,
was written by Rothenberg.
The section dealing with
"Kadesh-Barnea a n d Mount
Sinai" is by Aharoni, and
Jeziret Fara'un" by Hashim-
shoni. There is an important
index of Biblical references
and a thorough general index.
Rothenberg, in his introduc-
tion, describes the several re-
search explorations that have
been conducted by Israel's high-
er institutions of learning and

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