Written by Zvika Gasner 12-December-2024 (Originally 25-January-2019, Edited 14-June-2020) Photos By Angela R. Hechtfisch.
“Ein Bokek” History
“Ein Bokek” is an oasis in the south of the Judean Desert on the western side of the Dead Sea. Today the area of “Ein Bokek” is a popular international hotel strip consisting of a relaxed atmosphere and spa facilities with hilling treatments, focusing especially on body & skin. In fact, “Ein Bokek” is the lowest place on earth, more than 400 meters below sea level. There are two ways to get there: a 30 Km drive on road #31 from west-to-east from the city of Arad, or a north-to-south ride on road #1 and later #90 from Jerusalem alongside the north part of the Dead Sea.
Historically, during the Roman period, “Ein Bokek” served as a center for the manufacture of medicines and cosmetics. An extensive agricultural area was prepared for vegetation to produce these products. “Ein Bokek” water was used to irrigate these plants. The most famous of all was the perfume of persimmon made from the plant with the same name (do NOT mix with the persimmon fruit we are familiar nowadays) and considered to be the “Chanel 5” of the Romans time. Some historian would suggest that the reason for the Roman’s siege and later capture the fortress of Masada was due to the fact that the Jewish rebels of Mesada attacked these crops and threat the constant supply of the perfume to the Roman ladies upper class.
