Journey Through The Negev

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Many people inspired and encouraged my journeys - physical, intellectual, and spiritual. Most important has been my guide, Shai Gonorov, to whom I have dedicated this book.

In addition to assuring my safe return, Shai shared with me his love of the Negev and helped to ensure that my explorations became as much spiritual quests as physical odysseys. Vered, Shai's companion and now wife, sometimes accompanied us. On these occasions, her presence brought a softened edge to the otherwise unrelenting harshness of our trek.

Ira Chaleff counseled me to share my initial draft with multiple readers in order to benefit from their collective perspectives. This suggestion bore enormous fruit in improvements to the original manuscript and personal satisfaction from discussions with these readers.

Edward S. Wyett F.R.G.S. joined my journey of 1996. During that time, we forged a friendship subsequent to which he nominated me for fellowship in the Royal Geographical Society. We have continued our friendship through correspondence and an annual meeting in July at the Greyhound pub in Knightsbridge, London. Through his life-long study of Sir Richard Burton and other Arabists, he has provided invaluable insights and references concerning their worldviews and motivations. I have borrowed freely from our correspondence and discussions. He was instrumental in contacting Dr. John N. Rhodes, Curator of the Royal Engineers Museum, in my quest to learn more of the British reconstruction of the well at Be'er Milhan.

Rabbi Joshua Haberman introduced me to the work of Joseph Ernest Renan, the 19th century French Orientalist, whose journeys through Syria and Egypt may have stimulated for him ideas similar to mine.

Rabbi Max Ticktin commented on Hebrew usage, in particular the contemporary meaning of ashel, and introduced me to the concept of geographical determinism, popular a half-century ago.

Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, Professor of Religion at Berry College, clarified nuances of theological terminology and corrected my use of Islamic and Arabic terms. He suggested that I include the compassion of God as well as His severity and encouraged me to describe more of the personal experience of those who undertake the haj.

Dr. Paul Robbins consistently challenged my theses on the psychology of the Victorians and the evolution of One God. In so doing, he motivated me to produce more robust treatments than otherwise may have been the case.

Sara Williams, my sister, gently chided me on my use of the masculine, suggesting that modern convention calls for the gender neutral. Yet, the Middle East remains a place divided by gender and its deserts more so. In these contexts, modern convention seems out of place. For anyone I may have offended, I offer apology.

Diane C. Cinnamon, M.D., meticulously reviewed my initial draft with the skill of a professional editor, pointing out unclear passages, awkward constructions, inconsistent references, and innumerable typographical errors. The final text is stronger for her efforts.

Shilo DeBeer, commented not only on structure and content, but suggested that I use an "ears test" ("correct pronunciation") rather than an "eyes test" ("correct spelling") in transliterating from Hebrew and Arabic to English.

Geoff Varrall, Katherine Richardson, Drs. Samuel and Ellen Stern, Edward Nager, Dr. Frederick L. Klein, Marcia Warrant, Jeffrey Sklaver, Dr. Lawrence Robbins, Dan Ofri, Pamela Law, Rich Luhr, David Williams, Vladick Botvinick, Leah Abrahams, Joan Strauss, Jerry and Florence Minkoff, Michelle French, Allen Yarowsky, Dr. Patricia Thompson, Lynn Klar, Thomas and Judith Klein, John Millar, Rabbi Lyle Fishman, Rabbi Hillel Milgram, and Francesca Cura commented on earlier drafts, corrected nuances of fact, and/or provided the encouragement that helped me to strengthen the writing and the content, and most importantly to persevere to complete the manuscript. Ms. Voula Doulaveris, expert seamstress, designed and crafted the padded cloth cases, which I used in 1997 and after to protect my cameras from the sun and dust.

Finally, special thanks are due to Ed and Ruth Boorstein for their encouragement and introduction to Ruth's cousin, Dr. Samuel Fleishman, who became my literary agent. He patiently guided me through the convergence of literary ideal and commercial reality, ensuring that I kept sight of the latter. Without his efforts, my manuscript would not have seen the light of day.

To all of the above, and those who I may have inadvertently omitted, I express my deepest thanks.