Ein-Gedi
Ein-Gedi is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea and one of
the most important archaeological sites in the Judean Desert.
En-Gedi is actually the name of a spring which flows from a height of
656 feet above the Dead Sea. In the Bible, the wasteland near the spring
where David sought refuge from Saul is called "the wilderness of En-Gedi"
and the enclosed camps at the top of the mountains, the "strongholds of
En-Gedi."
In the period before the Bar Kokhba War (132--135), the Jewish town
of En-Gedi was imperial property and Roman garrison troops were stationed
there. But in the time of Bar Kokhba, it was under his control, and was
one of his military and administrative centers. In the Roman-Byzantine
period, the settlement of En-Gedi is mentioned by the Church Fathers;
Eusebius describes it as a very large Jewish village. En-Gedi was then
famous for its fine dates and rare spices.
Excavations in 1970 brought to light the remains of a Jewish community
in the Byzantine period. Their synagogue had a beautiful mosaic floor
depicting peacocks eating grapes, and the words "Peace on Israel," as
well as a unique inscription consisting of 18 lines, part of which calls
down a curse on "anyone causing a controversy between a man and his fellows
or who slanders his friends before the gentiles or steals the property
of his friends, or anyone revealing the secret of the town to the gentiles..."
(According to one authority, it was designed against those revealing the
secrets of the balsam industry.) A seven-branched menorah of bronze and
more than 5,000 coins (found in the synagogue's cash box near the Ark)
were also uncovered.
In 1953 a kibbutz was established nearby and took the name En-Gedi.
Its primary function was initially defense; but it also successfully developed
farming methods adapted to the local conditions of a hot desert climate
and an abundance of fresh water from the En-Gedi Springs. An area surrounding
the Springs has been declared a nature reserve. A field school of the
Society for the Preservation of Nature, a youth hostel and a recreation
home are all situated there.
More
Ein Gedi Synagogue
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