THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 48 Friday, April 1, 1977 75-Year Old Idea Could Promise New Life for Dead Sea By ZE'EV SEGAL (Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.) JERUSALEM—"...When they arrived at the hotel, Kingscourt did not want to leave the car. He wanted to continue the journey to the Dead Sea channel. Fortu- nately, little Fritz had fall- en asleep on the way, other- wise Otto could never have permitted himself such an The SHELDON ROTT ORCHESTRA Featuring T.V. & Recording Artist VICKIE CARROLL "Professional Entertainment" 967-3187 255-1599 exceptional idea. It was de- cided, therefore, that the women would remain in the hotel with the child, while the men would go alone on the short trip down the val- ley. "In front of them stretched the blue expanse of the Dead Sea, and a dea- fening -noise, which was the sound of the water in the channel, which had been brought through tunnels from the Mediterranean Sea and was pouring down into the valley. "In a few words, David explained the nature of the plant: the Dead Sea, as it is known, is -the lowest place in the world, its level being 394 meters below that of the Mediterranean Sea. There could, therefore, be • From All Of Us To All Of You— A Peaceful, Ha ppy , Joyful Passover BRODY'S BOYS & YOUNG MENS WEAR • • LI 3-41 15 1 3 745 W. NINE MILE RD. • • BankAmericard • Master Charge • Layaways no simpler idea than that of using the gigantic height dif- ferential and making it into a source of energy. "The height loss in the channel's path from the coast to the Dead Sea is just a little over 80 meters, leaving, therefore, a drop of 300 meters or more. The width of the channel is 10 meters and its depth three, and it produces some 50,000 horsepower..." When Theodor Herzl pub- lished this account in his book "Altneuland" in 1902, there was no lack of skep- tics and doubters who re- jected the seer's vision. But as, bit by bit, the vision has started to become a reality, there has been no lack of scientists, with a sense for reality, who have tried to find an achievable idea in that charming description picnic in one of of a the most most awe inspiring won- derlands in the world. In those pre-state days, in what was the most difficult period for Jewish settle- ment in the land of Israel in the late 1930s, a world- famous American expert, whose activity was destined to represent the first sparks of American scientific aid to the Promised Land, ar- rived in the "old-new" coun- HAPPY PASSOVER TO THE COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL AUTO SERVICE CO GRAND OPENING C SPRING SPECIALS FRONT END ALIGNMENT SNOW TIRE REMOVAL SPECIAL plus HIGH SPEED BALANCE AND ROTATION $5 0 0 $ 1495 per tire reg. 17.95 reg. 6.50 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR • Electronic engine tune up — points, plugs, timing, condenser • Front end alignment — balancing, setting toe in, camber & caster • Brakes • Engine scope service • Air conditioning ▪ ▪ ASK ABOUT SOUTHFIELD AREA'S (1st) Senior citizen discount Family discount — 2 or more cars Car pick up service — return to home or office Dial-a-mechanic — free emergency service advice GET A FAIR SHAKE 20134 W. 8 Mile, So. (W. of Evergreen) 357-3111 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7-6 p.m., Sat. 7-2 p.m. NKAMEAICAAO one kr," Arlir WHILE WAITING ENJOY T.V. AND COFFEE — try. An expert in soil preser- vation and hydrology, Wal- ter Clay Lowdermilk came armed with scientific re- search papers, a lot of know-how, documents, maps and Herzl's book that had been written at the be- ginning of the century. He studies the conditions of the country, examined its soil, toured the Dead Sea region, and decided that it was possible to - turn the Dead Sea into a source of life and energy, with the waters of the Mediterra- nean flowing into it and the height differential serving for the production of energy. His conclusions, which were published, inter alia, in his book "The Land of Is- rael—The Appointed Land," served as a source of in- spiration for many experts who came to a clear con- clusion: that the vision could become reality. It is feasible to work out a plan for directing a gravity fed flow of water from the Mediterranean Sea through a large tunnel to the Dead Sea, with the purpose of pro- ducing hydro-electric power via a large artificial lake and a system of locks and dams. But fate was not kind to this plan. For a long time the various plans were kept in dusty drawers, while on the shelf above them in a place of forgotten honor, was the vision of the "Seer" of the state. The Yom Kippur War wls the signal for making the poten- tial "energy plan" an ac- tuality. The fuel crisis, which became a much more serious problem fol- lowing the war, demon- strated the need to find re- liable and cheap energy re- sources. – At last, the forgotten drawers were opened. Six months after the end of the war, the then Israel Min- ister of Development, Hayim Gevati, appointed a committee of experts with the task of examining "the feasibility of establishing a hydro-electric plant in the Dead Sea area." In other words, the committee was asked to look, objectively, into the important and unan- swered question: can the vi- sion of Herzl be turned into functional reality? The committee, headed by Prof. Shlomo Ekstein, of Bar-Ilan University, sat for lOng months discussing the subject. The committee, amongst whose members were representatives of the Atomic Energy Council, the electricity corporation, the water planning authority, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Israel Chemicals Corporation and the Dead Sea Works, exam- ined the old research papers, toured the area and consulted experts. Its conclusions were clear. It says in the com- mittee's report "The estab- lishment of a hydro-electric plant in the Dead Sea area seems practical from an en- gineering point of view and is within the realms ,of eco- nomic feasibility." - The committee's -report loosened the wheels of the plan and in April of this year, Dr. Moshe Mandel- baum, • director-general of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. announced the establishment of the plan's directorate; which would undertake, within the framework of the Elec- tricity Corporation, com- plimentary examinations, detailed planning, the prepa- ration of calculations for the implementation of the research findings, and the determination of ways to re- alize the fabulous visionary concept of Herzl's dream, now approaching its 75th an- niversary. The tests were planned to continue for over a year. At a scheduled date, a detailed plan will be presented to the government for its ap- proval. The chief scientist of the Ministry of Com- merce and Industry will de- termine the methods of the plan's implementation, based on diverting sea water through a short and open canal, between Ash- dod and Ashkelon, and transferring it to and through a large tunnel, 75 kilometers long, emerging at a point on the Heights that are above Ein Fashkha and Ein Gedi. t Near the point, whe is proposed the tunnei emerge, a control lake and a large reservoir will be es- tablished. INVITATIONS Weddings-Bar Mitzvas Showers-Etc. Complete Unique Selection H & L SALES CO. 557-1240 or eves 837-1555 Best Wishes For A Joyous and Happy Passover . ALPORT SCRAP AND SALVAGE CO. Fred Rapoport — David Fealk — Albert Borkin 7900 Dix Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48209 843-0721 Passover Greetings DgRO N, SnOKE 10.& S From EDDIE & JANIE CITRON rsth,. 2 Locations to Serve You 23077 Greenfield 17017 W. 9 Mile Rd. Sheraton Southfield Advance Building (Lower level) Southfield Mich. 48075 559-5559 559-9119 ELECTROLYSIS WORKS! 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