There are no great rivers, gushing falls or large lakes in
Israel. Ours is a dry country, with several streams we like to
call rivers, and many wadis; dry gullies similar to the arroyos
in the southwestern United States. In Hebrew, both wadis and
rivers are called “nahal”, but we distinguish between two
different types. “nahal eitan” – a perennial river – has flowing
water throughout the year, usually from springs, at least along
some parts of its trajectory. Our wadis on the other hand are
dubbed “nahal akhzav” – a “disappointing river” – since most of
the year they are dry, and only during the few winter days, when
floodwaters rush along them, are we reminded that these dry
gullies are actually stream beds. In the relatively arid
Mediterranean region, springs and rivers have played a major
role since ancient times. Most of the archeological and
historical remains in the country are found adjacent to sources
of water. This is true of other countries and regions as well;
Rome was built on the River Tiber, Par