A. Parking in Ein Hosov (Hatzeba)
B. Getting ready to spend the night in tents near the Um Hosov police
C. Sights on the way
D. Visiting excavations at Tel Halifa, near Aqaba
E. A shed at the workers' camp in the salt factory, near Mount Sodom
F. Cave in Mount Sodom
G. Railway cars leading potash at the Sodom factory
From Jerusalem to Aqaba: Ben-Gurion's travels
Four cars hit the road in March 1940 from Jerusalem towards southern Israel, carrying some of most prominent Jewish leaders of that era. Photos document their visits to Um Rashrash, village of Aqaba and salt factory in Sodom
Ezrah Mor (Markovsky) was a security officer and policeman at the Hebrew settlement police during the British Mandate in the Land of Israel, and later on.
In March 1940, he accompanied as an officer a special trip of some of the most prominent Jewish leader's of that era: David Ben-Gurion, who later became Israel's first prime minister, his wife Paula and son Amos; Dov Yosef and his wife Goldie, Yeshurun Schif, Yaakov Adir, Levandovsky, Yisrael Galili, Yosef Avidar and tour guide Yosef Breslavi.
Dov Yosef (born Bernard Joseph, 1899-1980) was one of the organizers of the volunteering to the Jewish brigades in Canada during World War I, and arrived in the Land of Israel with the Canadian brigade in 1918.
He studied law and served as the Agency's legal advisor at the time of the British Mandate. During World War II, he handled the mobilization of Jewish volunteers to the British army.
Dov Yosef is always mentioned in connection with the "austerity period" during the State's first years, when there was a shortage of all commodities and Yosef, as "provision and rationing minister" was forced to issue unpleasant regulations.
Yisrael Galili (1911-1986) was one of the founders of Kibbutz Na'an and chief of staff of the Haganah organization during the War of Independence. He engaged in Israel's security all his life.
Yosef Avidar (born Yosef Rochel, 1906-1995) was one of the founders of the Haganah organization and one of its senior commanders. He engaged in the organization's operation activity, establishing communities and factories, founded the secret Ayalon Institute for weapons manufacturing during the British Mandate.
He lost his hand during a course on the use of hand grenades (and received the nickname "the amputee"). His wife was author Yemima Tchernovitz-Avidar.
The group left on a four-vehicle convoy from Jerusalem towards Beersheba. They descended to the Arava region through Scorpion Ascent towards Ein Hosov, and from there, through the Arava, stopped at Um Rashrash, the ruins of Etzion Gever and the village of Aqaba. They traveled back through the new salt factory build in Sodom.
During this trip, Mor and the others took a number of pictures, which are presented here. We would like to thank Mirit Gal-Ed, Ezrah Mor's daughter, who let us peek into her father's fascinating photo album.
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