Glimpses of Israel - Ein Gedi

Located south of Jerusalem, alongside the Dead Sea and on the road to Massada is the oasis of Ein Gedi.

Fed by four Springs — Ein Gedi, Ein Nahal Arugot, Ein Nahal David and Ein Shulamit — the scenic desert oasis includes numerous brooks and waterfalls. A flourishing and yet diverse vegetation is home to a variety of birds. The ibex and hyrax roam freely in its rugged landscape.

An ancient temple unearthed above the Ein Gedi Springs dates the earliest settlement around 3,000 BCE. At the time of Israel's possession of the Promised Land during the days of Joshua, Ein Gedi was included in the portion to the tribe of Judah. David fled from King Saul and took refuge in the caves of Ein Gedi.

Ein Gedi was famous for its aromatic and medicinal plants. "My beloved to me is a spray of henna blooms from the vineyards of Ein Gedi." (Song of Solomon 1:14) A large Jewish community thrived during the Second Temple period. However over 700 residents were killed by Sicarri zealots who raided Ein Gedi to obtain supplies for Massada.

Since the reestablishment of the State in 1948, the region has developed significantly in agriculture and tourism. Today, Kibbutz Ein Gedi is home to a rapidly growing Jewish community and provides a hub for the many tourists to the area.

According to the Prophet Ezekiel, Ein Gedi will be a popular fishing location during the Messianic Kingdom. "It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many." (Ezekiel 47:10)

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