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Ein Tzur
Tamar Wisemon
Accessed from Ramat HaNadiv parking lot or the nearby ORT school, 5 km (3 miles) from the Binyaminah interchange on Route 652 north of Haderah
Tel.: (06) 629-3333 Open: Sun.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m. -1:45 p.m. Saturdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Cost: Free
The yawning mouth of the cave, cleared of the wild berry bushes that hid it until 1989, reveals a stone channel flowing with chilly water, leading into dense darkness. The water tunnel at Ein Tzur dates back to Herodian times; close to 60 meters (180 ft.) long, it is accessible to anyone (and particularly thrilling for kids) prepared to crouch down low and wade through knee-deep water and around slippery rocks while clutching a flashlight or candle. At the dead end, a wall of rock stretches up from a silent pool of water, and the narrow, enclosed space lends an eerie sense of utter isolation.
On the 1.5-km (1-mile) Green Trail down to Ein Tzur, archeological excavations offer snapshots of different historical periods, from an early Jewish settlement to a Turkish fortress. Down by the tunnel, water flows from the cave through a restored channel into two square pools built by Jewish settlers in the first half of the 20th century, and today used by gazelles and other animals, who come at night to drink when the area is empty of visitors. Below the pools lie the well-preserved remains of a Roman bathhouse, including the oven used to heat the water, and the pillars supporting the heated floor. To complete the picture, the surrounding land has been planted with farming terraces covered in fig and pomegranate trees, grape vines, carob and orange groves, recreating how the area would have appeared when the water from Ein Tzur brought it life.
The tunnel is accessible year-round and makes a great winter excursion, preferably with boots.
Good Taste
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