Dateline Jerusalem — Living in Israel is like living history. It is a country where old and new blend together, where futuristic high-rise buildings can be found next to ancient archaeological sites. Just last week a family was renovating their home when they discovered a 2000-year-old ancient ritual bath (mikve) from the Second Temple period under their living room floor. Having resided in Israel for the past eight years, I never have lost my fascination for unusual facts, figures, and trivia about this tiny nation at the junction of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. It is 1/6th of 1 percent of the landmass of the Middle East, half the size of Lake Michigan, 1/19th the size of California, roughly the size of New Jersey. Its entire population, half of metropolitan New York City, is less than 1/1000th of the world’s population. Although the Negev Desert makes up 60 percent of Israel’s land, 92 percent of the people live elsewhere.
An entire continent’s topography can be found in tiny Israel. The heart-shaped Ramon Crater, considered the largest crater in the world, is actually a Makhtesh, the only Makhtesh in the world. A Makhtesh is a result of ancient formations of sandstone covered by limestone and dolomite, uplifted by tectonic forces and carved out by climate erosion and water. Allegedly one of the highlights of a trip to Israel is standing on the edge of the crater and looking up at a black sky lit with stars. The Sea of Galilee, known as Lake Kinneret in Israel, is an ancient lake dating to biblical times. It is the largest lake and only freshwater reservoir in Israel, and the lowest freshwater lake in the world. Israel is home to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, 1315 feet below sea level. It is so salty, 33 percent salt content, that it is impossible to sink. Amazing to watch people float on their backs while reading books and newspapers and working crossword puzzles. The most interesting sight is watching people rub the Dead Sea’s mineral-filled mud all over their faces and bodies.
Overlooking the Dead Sea is the isolated rock plateau and mountain fortress of Masada where 1000 Jews fought off Rome’s army for several years and then committed mass suicide rather than surrender. Today it can be reached climbing a narrow, windy Snake Path during the early hours of the morning before the sizzling heat becomes too unbearable, or via a cable car. The steepest cable car in the world is in Rosh Hanikra. It has a 60-degree gradient that goes down the cliff to the grottoes or sea caves. The caves and tunnels were formed by rainwater penetrating underground rifts from shocks that ripped open gaps withing the bedrock. When the waves hit the rocks, the caves continued to grow larger.
A lot of places are below ground in Israel. Israel has the only underwater museum in the world, even an underwater restaurant. In Akko (Acre) there is an underground Crusader city. Atlit Yam is an ancient underwater village off the coast of Haifa. A water well, believed to be the oldest wooden structure ever found and the oldest evidence of an ancient olive oil industry, was found underwater in the prehistoric village of Atlit Yam.
Although Israel is home to the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world, Jericho, and the oldest continuously used cemetery in the world, the Mount of Olives, and home to the burial sites of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Bible, and has a Biblical Zoo with animals mentioned in the Bible, Israel is a modern and innovative place to live. It is the only country in the world that has an operational anti-ballistic missile defense system, the Iron Dome, to intercept and destroy rockets aimed at Israeli population centers. I can personally attest that it works! It saved Israeli lives during last summer’s war with Gaza. The U.N. criticized Israel for not sharing this invention with the Palestinians who launched missiles and rockets into Israeli cities. The absurdity of it all.
Israel is entirely able to generate electricity independently from solar panels channeled directly into Israeli homes and it is a leader in converting sea water into fresh drinking water. Take notice, California. Israeli technology in science, medicine, agriculture, and computers is an inspiration. Israeli palm trees produce 10 times as many dates as an average palm tree, and even Israeli dairy cows are the most productive in the world. Where else in the world would you find kosher glue on postage stamps and Braille on Israeli bank notes so the blind can handle money accurately?
I hope you find these facts and trivia as interesting as I did when researching them.
L’hitraot. Shachar