Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Gefen Publishing House (2010), Paperback, 104 pages
Description
In 1986, when drought brought the level of the Sea of Galilee unusually low, the two brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan unearthed the timber frame of an ancient fishing boat. Archaeologist Kurt Raveh was to call the two-thousand-year-old boat of the very type Jesus used to sail the Galilee the most important discovery of the twentieth century. Recovery and preservation of the waterlogged "Jesus boat" was a unique challenge, as no other wooden object had ever survived two millennia in sweet water. Here is the emotional, suspenseful and inspiring story of the boat and those who dedicated fourteen years of their lives to making it available for all the world to see.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cascadian
On our first-ever visit to Israel last summer, the group my wife and I were part of stopped for a few hours one afternoon at the "Jesus Boat" museum at Ginosaur. While relatively interesting, I remember thinking there wasn't really very much to the place -- a movie, a couple of displays, and the
"The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" is sort of an odd book. It starts, as other reviewers have noted, almost like a children's story, with three chapters about the adventures of brothers Yuval and Moshe on the kibbutz. With chapter four, however, the tone switches abruptly to, if not exactly a scientific, at least a serious, fact-based, adult focus on the archaeological challenges of excavating an ancient wooden artifact from beneath water and centuries of mud. Professionals may not consider this up to snuff as scientific literature. But for the layman with an interest in biblical themes, ancient history, archaeological treasure-hunting, or the intersection of the three, it should certainly hold interest, and may even qualify as an attractive coffee table book if they've been to the site.
Because the "Jesus Boat" is, as the name suggests, an artifact with a certain spiritual weight attached to it, you shouldn't be surprised to find a religious tone to sections of this book, including frequent citing of bible verses. I suspect the readers most likely to be attracted to this book are also the ones least likely to be bothered by that.
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boat itself. Most of my group seemed to agree, ending up devoting a lot more energy to the kibbutz gift shop than to the museum. This is one of those odd times when reading a book about something turned out to be more rewarding than experiencing it first-hand."The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" is sort of an odd book. It starts, as other reviewers have noted, almost like a children's story, with three chapters about the adventures of brothers Yuval and Moshe on the kibbutz. With chapter four, however, the tone switches abruptly to, if not exactly a scientific, at least a serious, fact-based, adult focus on the archaeological challenges of excavating an ancient wooden artifact from beneath water and centuries of mud. Professionals may not consider this up to snuff as scientific literature. But for the layman with an interest in biblical themes, ancient history, archaeological treasure-hunting, or the intersection of the three, it should certainly hold interest, and may even qualify as an attractive coffee table book if they've been to the site.
Because the "Jesus Boat" is, as the name suggests, an artifact with a certain spiritual weight attached to it, you shouldn't be surprised to find a religious tone to sections of this book, including frequent citing of bible verses. I suspect the readers most likely to be attracted to this book are also the ones least likely to be bothered by that.
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LibraryThing member oldmanriver1951
WHat a wonderfully readable account of two brothers who unearthed the frame of an ancient fishing boat. Not too unusual in most days and times. But this boat was found along the Sea of Galilee and scientific testing has proved that it is of the same style and nearly the age that would have been
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used for fishing in the time of Jesus of Nazareth. Reading at times like a suspense novel, the tale of the dedication of the brothers desire to bring this relic to the attention of the world is an immenently satisfying read. Show Less
LibraryThing member GoodGeniusLibrary
The subject of this book--finding and preserving a 2,000 year old boat from the Sea of Galilee--is in and of its self a five star story. The writing falls short of what should be an enthralling read. Having not read so on the title page, I wondered half-way through reading this book if it was a
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translation as the writing seemed not "quite" comfortable to me; something almost imperceptible, but non-the-less left me with this impression. The author, Winkler, does communicate the excitement and passion of the people in the "Order of the Boat", people involved in the discovery and preservation of the boat, but the story lacks consistency in detail, jumps back and forth sometimes chronologically, and sometimes wanders to personal side commentary or matters that seem randomly chosen (great detail about fish and several mentions about the apostle Peter's supremacy). The boat, its amazing discovery, the fascinating fourteen-year process of preservatio, and the passion of those involved needs to be told by a polished author who can tell the story as a gripping, fleshed out story with scientific detail mingled with the life stories of those involved. I would have loved to really learn about the two brothers' lives more. This fleshed out story would make a great movie too. Please, someone, research this story from all those involved and rewrite this book into a novel-like non-fiction story. Show Less
LibraryThing member chilemery
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is an enjoyable read about an extraordinary archaeological discovery of a 2000+-year old, common fishing boat -- just the kind that one imagines that Jesus rode in on the several occasions he put off from the shore to escape the crowds that pressed upon him on the
The book is charmingly quirky with its atypical heroes in the two brothers from the near-by kibbutz who discover the boat and the unusual events that take place as they fight to save the craft from rising waters and fortune-seeking mobs. The prose is a bit awkward in some places -- it is obvious that the book has been less than expertly translated -- but the missteps in phrasing are minor and don't distract substantially from the enjoyment of the story; in fact, most of the textual oddities add to the ingratiating sensation that you are observing the story unfold in another land with your eyes and ears from another culture.
My only complaint about the book is the painfully low-quality photos used -- some look (and maybe are), poorly rendered drawings and cut-outs around pictures that look as if a novice used Photoshop to crop out the element of interest. (Also, I don't understand the use of the jigsaw puzzle of the boat that is gradually completed at the end of each section -- it is gimmicky, superfluous and there is no reference to it in the text anywhere that I can find.) Since the reader is unlikely to have the opportunity to see this marvelous relic for himself, this oversight or corner-cutting is hard to understand in a book which should provide the aspiring, armchair archaeologist the chance to see the boat in sharp, detailed pictures as a reward for his investment in a book about it.
Undoubtedly, the history and archaeology diehards will be a little disappointed in this volume for its relaxed tone and lack of hard, scientific explanations, while the more casual reader -- maybe the kind that relates to Indiana Jones and his wild adventures -- with a less demanding expectation will like it for those very reasons.
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banks of the inland sea. The book is charmingly quirky with its atypical heroes in the two brothers from the near-by kibbutz who discover the boat and the unusual events that take place as they fight to save the craft from rising waters and fortune-seeking mobs. The prose is a bit awkward in some places -- it is obvious that the book has been less than expertly translated -- but the missteps in phrasing are minor and don't distract substantially from the enjoyment of the story; in fact, most of the textual oddities add to the ingratiating sensation that you are observing the story unfold in another land with your eyes and ears from another culture.
My only complaint about the book is the painfully low-quality photos used -- some look (and maybe are), poorly rendered drawings and cut-outs around pictures that look as if a novice used Photoshop to crop out the element of interest. (Also, I don't understand the use of the jigsaw puzzle of the boat that is gradually completed at the end of each section -- it is gimmicky, superfluous and there is no reference to it in the text anywhere that I can find.) Since the reader is unlikely to have the opportunity to see this marvelous relic for himself, this oversight or corner-cutting is hard to understand in a book which should provide the aspiring, armchair archaeologist the chance to see the boat in sharp, detailed pictures as a reward for his investment in a book about it.
Undoubtedly, the history and archaeology diehards will be a little disappointed in this volume for its relaxed tone and lack of hard, scientific explanations, while the more casual reader -- maybe the kind that relates to Indiana Jones and his wild adventures -- with a less demanding expectation will like it for those very reasons.
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LibraryThing member papyri
Written in a non-technical style for a young audience, the book is nicely illustrated and easy to read. It presents an interesting account of the discovery, archaeological recovery and preservation of an ancient boat dating from the time of Jesus. It provides information about the boat and how it
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was constructed, including the various types of wood used to constuct it. Biblical and historical information about the region/sites/places around the Sea of Galilee conclude the text. Show Less
LibraryThing member benjclark
Heavy on emotion, light on information and detail. The word that kept coming to mind while reading was "gush". Needs another round of editing to even out the style. Even if it was written for the Sunday School YA market, I'd not even recommend it for that. Doesn't have any input by an actual
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archaeologist. Authors typically write for children, and it shows. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
This book contain solid information about a significant discovery, the finding of the remains of a fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee which carbon-dating confirms as being roughly 2000 years old, making it a genuine sample of the type of boats used in the sea at the time Jesus peached in the
There are good non-technical explanations of the processes used in excavating and preserving the boat, and some analysis of the woods it was made of and how it was made.
There is also a brief account of the Biblical and historical informtion about the towns around the Sea of Galilee in the time of Jesus.
For me as an adult scholar, the weakness of the book is that it was written written by authors whose previous experience is
chiefly in writing or producing materials for children. Its intended audience appears to be Sunday Schools or equivalent on a young adult level. The general tone is one of wide-eyed wonder, with a heavy emphasis on what the authors repeatedly refer to as "miraculous" events
that facilitated the discovery and preservation of the boat.
Personally I would describe these events not as miraculous (involving a suspension of natural law) but simply providential (involving a working out of divine purpose by natural means) if that --some are hardly even striking enough to be called providential. There is also a tendency to exaggerate the importance of theis genuinely significant discovery by calling it the most important archaeological discovery of the twentieth century. Even if one restricted the context to Biblical archaeology, surely, for example, the Dead Sea Scrolls would be more significant?
However, this books remains a useful resource for pastors, rabbis, Sunday School teachers and others who would use a highly accessible explanation of a genuinely important find.
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area.There are good non-technical explanations of the processes used in excavating and preserving the boat, and some analysis of the woods it was made of and how it was made.
There is also a brief account of the Biblical and historical informtion about the towns around the Sea of Galilee in the time of Jesus.
For me as an adult scholar, the weakness of the book is that it was written written by authors whose previous experience is
chiefly in writing or producing materials for children. Its intended audience appears to be Sunday Schools or equivalent on a young adult level. The general tone is one of wide-eyed wonder, with a heavy emphasis on what the authors repeatedly refer to as "miraculous" events
that facilitated the discovery and preservation of the boat.
Personally I would describe these events not as miraculous (involving a suspension of natural law) but simply providential (involving a working out of divine purpose by natural means) if that --some are hardly even striking enough to be called providential. There is also a tendency to exaggerate the importance of theis genuinely significant discovery by calling it the most important archaeological discovery of the twentieth century. Even if one restricted the context to Biblical archaeology, surely, for example, the Dead Sea Scrolls would be more significant?
However, this books remains a useful resource for pastors, rabbis, Sunday School teachers and others who would use a highly accessible explanation of a genuinely important find.
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LibraryThing member hermit
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is an easy read about the luck of two brothers who make a discovery of a fishing boat over two thousand years old that was in common use in the area at the time of Jesus of Nazareth and the work involved to preserve it. This and the fact that it is the first wooden
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boat found in fresh water that has not disintegrated with the extraordinary amount of time spent claimed by the sea. This is not a book written for the scientist but more of a story of the emotional experience shared by those who worked on the fourteen year project to preserve this rare find and the love and anxiety that accompanied the endeavor. Almost a coffee table book it is written for the laymen but lacks the detail pictures that one would think would be included of the finished work for the many who will never have the opportunity to visit the very small museum. It is amazing at the speed of required permissions, expertise, labor and materials was assembled to allow for such a quick excavation of this important find. The book is a good introduction to the "Jesus Boat." Show Less
LibraryThing member adamtarn
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is a pleasantly written account of the discovery, excavation and preservation of what has become known as the "Jesus" boat. It dates to the first century CE and is of the similar style to the kind of boat that Jesus may have used. In fact, it looks hauntingly similar
To be clear, this book is not a technical account of the discovery (although it includes a bit of technical detail) but more a emotive telling of the story and the community of people involved. Some of the principal characters are the two brothers who discovered the boat, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, and the boat conservationist, Orna. The authors write with a lyrical quality and the poetics draw the reader into the hearts and minds of those who experienced this tale first hand.
I do have to admit that sometimes the book oscillates back and forth from this more lyrical, emotive style story to more technical, dry rendering of dimensions, geography and history. At times it seems it would be a good story to read to children (some of the chapters end with an evolving puzzle of the boat, each adding one more piece until the end when the full boat is revealed). At other times, unless you are really interested in archeology or the geography and history of the area, you might be a bit bored. Because of these oscillations it might very well frustrate its readers.
There is also a good bit of reference to the Christian scriptures, namely the gospels, as the authors attempt to draw us into the first century world of the Galilee as well as capture the spirit of magnificence felt by those who had an intimate relationship to this discovery. Take the following quote as a beautiful example,
"He was drawn into the peace and the quiet that dwelt here with the people and swallowed with his eyes the wide spaces of the horizon. He collected in his heart the blue of the Kinneret and the green of the landscapes along the coasts, talked with everyone and asked to help them all. And all he wanted was to break down the wall of hatred between one man and another and to teach love and that is why I think, like Moshe, that this boat, at the end of the day, will bring peace!" (p. 52)
It is worth mentioning that this book is heavily illustrated with photos, paintings and illustrations which aid the reader's imagination. That being said, this would probably be a great book for older, more mature children and just might succeed at getting them interested in archeology and history (although, I'm sure a great many adults and parents will thoroughly enjoy it as well ... I know I did.)
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to the boat depicted on the first century mosaic found near Migdal.To be clear, this book is not a technical account of the discovery (although it includes a bit of technical detail) but more a emotive telling of the story and the community of people involved. Some of the principal characters are the two brothers who discovered the boat, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, and the boat conservationist, Orna. The authors write with a lyrical quality and the poetics draw the reader into the hearts and minds of those who experienced this tale first hand.
I do have to admit that sometimes the book oscillates back and forth from this more lyrical, emotive style story to more technical, dry rendering of dimensions, geography and history. At times it seems it would be a good story to read to children (some of the chapters end with an evolving puzzle of the boat, each adding one more piece until the end when the full boat is revealed). At other times, unless you are really interested in archeology or the geography and history of the area, you might be a bit bored. Because of these oscillations it might very well frustrate its readers.
There is also a good bit of reference to the Christian scriptures, namely the gospels, as the authors attempt to draw us into the first century world of the Galilee as well as capture the spirit of magnificence felt by those who had an intimate relationship to this discovery. Take the following quote as a beautiful example,
"He was drawn into the peace and the quiet that dwelt here with the people and swallowed with his eyes the wide spaces of the horizon. He collected in his heart the blue of the Kinneret and the green of the landscapes along the coasts, talked with everyone and asked to help them all. And all he wanted was to break down the wall of hatred between one man and another and to teach love and that is why I think, like Moshe, that this boat, at the end of the day, will bring peace!" (p. 52)
It is worth mentioning that this book is heavily illustrated with photos, paintings and illustrations which aid the reader's imagination. That being said, this would probably be a great book for older, more mature children and just might succeed at getting them interested in archeology and history (although, I'm sure a great many adults and parents will thoroughly enjoy it as well ... I know I did.)
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LibraryThing member roydknight
In May of this year (2010) I had the privilege while on a pilgrimage in the Holy Lands to visit the Ygal Allon Center & Museum. "The Jesus Boat" was the obvious center of attention and was well-displayed and documented.
And now this small but well-illustrated book gives a superb behind-the-scenes
This is more than an academic archaelogical treatise (although it is filled with such details); it is a story of the wide range of emotions, challenges, rewards, obstacles, and eventual success of this unique find. The only thing better than reading this book is the actual visit to the Center itself.
And now this small but well-illustrated book gives a superb behind-the-scenes
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history of the boat's discovery and preservation. In 1986 the level of the Sea of Galilee dropped to an unusually low level due to drought. Two brothers unearthed the timber frame of an ancient fishing boat, a 2,000 yr old fishing boat of the very type Jesus and his followers would have used to sail the Sea of Galilee.This is more than an academic archaelogical treatise (although it is filled with such details); it is a story of the wide range of emotions, challenges, rewards, obstacles, and eventual success of this unique find. The only thing better than reading this book is the actual visit to the Center itself.
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LibraryThing member JacobusArminius
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee, Lea Lofenfeld Winkler. Gefen Publishing House – 2010.
I received this title as a part of LibraryThing’s early reviewers program. Translated from Hebrew, this book reads a bit differently from the language most English readers are used to. It carries much of the
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a useful book for use with tweens and adolescents who are interested in archaeology and mysteries. I have recommended it to Christian educators who work with those age groups as well. It could be very useful as a resource for illustrations on the Gospels. Aside from that, it is not necessarily a good candidate for reference material.
Once again, I enjoyed the book but I feel its greatest influence could be with school age children who are established readers.
I received this title as a part of LibraryThing’s early reviewers program. Translated from Hebrew, this book reads a bit differently from the language most English readers are used to. It carries much of the
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metaphor and poetry of the original language. Much of the time those sensibilities lend a lilt and sprightly nature to the experience but occasionally it becomes tiring. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a useful book for use with tweens and adolescents who are interested in archaeology and mysteries. I have recommended it to Christian educators who work with those age groups as well. It could be very useful as a resource for illustrations on the Gospels. Aside from that, it is not necessarily a good candidate for reference material.
Once again, I enjoyed the book but I feel its greatest influence could be with school age children who are established readers.
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LibraryThing member kwells
Chapters one to three about the discovery of the boat seemed to me overdramatic and sentimental. I wanted more archaeological detail. Chapters about conservation and the composition of the boat were interesting, especially the different types of trees used to build it. The second part of the book
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talks about the background and archaeology of the region, with some nice pictures of mosaics. I also liked the chapter that showed the different spots in the New Testament in which the Sea of Galilee and fishing boats played roles in Jesus’ ministry. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sansom48
I found this book to be intriguing. At first I did not know what to make of it, then I found that I truly enjoyed it. The book is about two brothers who find an ancient boat and have to call in experts. What makes this discovery more interesting is that it is dated around the time of Christ who at
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the time would have walked the area. The book is not the most technical, but serves as a great way to begin reading about archeology. That being said, I think there were still things that I learned and did not know about. Although, not the most technical it does do a good job in telling a story and is very descriptive of what went on. It gives the story from the beginning of the discovering with the two brothers to the story of the experts and what they make of it. It has pictures throughout which makes it fun for younger children. I think it is a great book to have on a shelf and will probably be read this book to my daughter when she gets a little older. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrSmeeton
The intriguing story of an archeological find dating from the time of Jesus is a tale that should be told--and it should be told better.
"The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" recounts how two brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, discovered and protected this unusual find. It traces fourteen years of drama
Unfortunately, the text is overly dramatic in the descriptions of how people felt the supernatural miracle of what they were doing so that the book reads as if it were intended to be souvenir booklet of propaganda to be read while visiting a shrine. It is more drama than description. The historical record should be told. It is dramatic enough without the touristic hype!
"The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" recounts how two brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, discovered and protected this unusual find. It traces fourteen years of drama
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as the archeological world's best experts stumbled their way forward so that this relic could be preserved and displayed. They experimented, had false starts and finally found a way so that the boat can be exhibited.Unfortunately, the text is overly dramatic in the descriptions of how people felt the supernatural miracle of what they were doing so that the book reads as if it were intended to be souvenir booklet of propaganda to be read while visiting a shrine. It is more drama than description. The historical record should be told. It is dramatic enough without the touristic hype!
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LibraryThing member rswright
This book is interesting for those looking for further evidences from archeology to further expand on the historicity of the Biblical accounts in the stories revealed therein. I found this book helpful in giving me a little more insight into 1st century fishermen on the Sea of Galilee and also in
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considering if this boat would be similar to one used by Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels. Overall, the book was helpful. If you are into archeology, you would enjoy this read; otherwise, check it out at the library. Show Less
LibraryThing member TABrowne
I really like this book. The pictures make the book real and the writing is engaging and interesting. Even my younger children enjoyed looking through and reading parts of it. My teenagers and husband were very interested in it. Seeing God's providence in allowing the excavation to happen, the
Even those without Faith in God and our Jesus will find value and interesting reading in this book. Just to see the historical reality.
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right people there to work on it and to guide people's hearts and minds so that even the construction of the conservation pools were exactly what was needed. Even those without Faith in God and our Jesus will find value and interesting reading in this book. Just to see the historical reality.
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LibraryThing member TheLoopyLibrarian
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is an intriguing and well-researched story. I enjoyed learning about the archeological processes and decade long battle to save this special boat. The photographs also documented the dig very well. However, the writing style really bogged me down. The writer indulged
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in metaphors and hyperbole to the extent that I felt I myself was on an archeological dig trying to get down to the actual story. She used dramatic license so much that I was annoyed most of the time that I was reading. The story was amazing. I didn’t need her constantly telling me how amazing it was. I would have preferred to experience it myself without her added drama. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosenectur
I received this book from the LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. When I requested the book I thought it would be a paper back book along the lines of Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ." It is in fact a wonderfully laid out, full color, hard back edition with beautiful photographs and
The writing was translated from Hebrew, and that should be kept in mind while reading the book. A glossary would have been a nice edition for some of the cultural words we in the US are not familiar with.
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is the story of two brothers who during a drought in Israel are exploring the newly receded shoreline and come across an old boat buried in the lake bed. The story unfolds as a scientific drama, sharing the personal insights and feeling of those doing the work of discovery and preservation. There has been no other find of it's kind any where. It's an interesting look into the historic find.
The book is very intriguing and a quick read. Although there are time the books makes jumps in chronology or ideas I think that is a cross-cultural issue, and maybe if there is ever an edition printed solely for the US market they can fix that.
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illustrations. The writing was translated from Hebrew, and that should be kept in mind while reading the book. A glossary would have been a nice edition for some of the cultural words we in the US are not familiar with.
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee is the story of two brothers who during a drought in Israel are exploring the newly receded shoreline and come across an old boat buried in the lake bed. The story unfolds as a scientific drama, sharing the personal insights and feeling of those doing the work of discovery and preservation. There has been no other find of it's kind any where. It's an interesting look into the historic find.
The book is very intriguing and a quick read. Although there are time the books makes jumps in chronology or ideas I think that is a cross-cultural issue, and maybe if there is ever an edition printed solely for the US market they can fix that.
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LibraryThing member mrkurtz
You cannot judge a book by its cover goes the ancient proverb and for "The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" the saying appears to be true. Nine and one-quarter inches wide by nine inches tall, this new printing of " The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" appears to be a pretty photography book with wonderful
The boat now goes into a conservation tank filled with a special fluid that must replace the water in the wood with this fluid. The members of the recovery team become known as the "Order of the Boat" people and this team of men and women remain together for the fourteen years that the boat remains in this special fluid. At last the boat is taken from the conservation tank to the Yigal Allon Center where it is on display today.
"The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" is just another picture book about an old boat like "The Old Man and the Sea" is just another book about an old man and a fish.
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pictures of a two thousand year old wooden boat discovered in new found land exposed by severe drought in the area of the Sea of Galilee in 1986. The narratives for these picture books are usually just enough to tell a simple story explained in detail by the great photographs included. But the narrative for this book tells the story of two Israeli brothers coming upon a boat by accident and having to keep it secret until they can find a way to rescue the boat. They contacted friends they could trust who contacted others and amazingly picked the right people to uncover and save this two thousand year old boat. The rescue is told in vivid detail covering the many miracles that keep the rescue on track and away from those who would exploit this find for their own gain. As the boat is dug out of the ground, they must preserve the wood by wrapping the boat in a protective coating to keep the wood from decomposing. Only about 20 people known to Moshe and Yuval are involved in the recovery of the boat. The reader becomes an explorer with Moshe and Yuval and their friends. This is an amazing boat put together with 2000 year old nails that have not rusted in all that time. The boat with its protective covering is floated out into the Sea of Galilee where it had last sailed in the time of Jesus Christ.The boat now goes into a conservation tank filled with a special fluid that must replace the water in the wood with this fluid. The members of the recovery team become known as the "Order of the Boat" people and this team of men and women remain together for the fourteen years that the boat remains in this special fluid. At last the boat is taken from the conservation tank to the Yigal Allon Center where it is on display today.
"The Boat and the Sea of Galilee" is just another picture book about an old boat like "The Old Man and the Sea" is just another book about an old man and a fish.
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LibraryThing member stults
Fascinating story. The author gives a thorough account of two brothers' discovery of an ancient boat and their work to see it recovered and preserved. The photographs are abundant and intriguing. I felt like I was right there and I couldn't put the book down. The author provides plenty of
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historical and geographical context, so no prior knowledge of this area is necessary. I enjoy reading about archaeology that is related to Biblical times and this book is a wonderful addition to my collection. Show Less
LibraryThing member memasmb
The Boat and the Sea of Galilee
By Lea Lofenfeld Winkler and Ramit Frenkel
I received this book from Gefen Publishing House in exchange for a review.
When I visited Israel in December, 2009, the Ygal Allon Center & Museum was on our agenda and I got to see first hand “The Jesus Boat” on display.
What a delight to receive this book after actually visiting the subject matter. Now I understand more fully the dedication the two brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan had in unearthing this historical find. Before reading this book, I did not realize how long the process of preservation (fourteen years) took to bring the boat from the sea to the museum. So many people volunteered their time and effort to accomplish this monumental task. The book contains many photos of the procedure followed, maps and details of the construction of the boat.
The book documents a whole spectrum of emotions, problems, bravery and faced by the committed individuals who followed this project from start to finish.
To learn about an archaeological find by two fisherman, pick up this easy to read book and follow their journey and contributions to understanding a time from our past.
By Lea Lofenfeld Winkler and Ramit Frenkel
I received this book from Gefen Publishing House in exchange for a review.
When I visited Israel in December, 2009, the Ygal Allon Center & Museum was on our agenda and I got to see first hand “The Jesus Boat” on display.
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Situated on the bank of the Sea of Galilee, the museum was very interesting and gave many details about the 2,000 year old fishing boat of the type Jesus and his followers would have sailed on the Sea of Galilee.What a delight to receive this book after actually visiting the subject matter. Now I understand more fully the dedication the two brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan had in unearthing this historical find. Before reading this book, I did not realize how long the process of preservation (fourteen years) took to bring the boat from the sea to the museum. So many people volunteered their time and effort to accomplish this monumental task. The book contains many photos of the procedure followed, maps and details of the construction of the boat.
The book documents a whole spectrum of emotions, problems, bravery and faced by the committed individuals who followed this project from start to finish.
To learn about an archaeological find by two fisherman, pick up this easy to read book and follow their journey and contributions to understanding a time from our past.
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LibraryThing member EowynA
This book tells the story of the discovery, conservation, and ultimate display of the first century fishing boat found buried in the lake bottom of the Sea of Galilee, from the perspective of its finders. The central figures in the story are the brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan. I assumed that they
The story itself is fascinating. A several-year-long drought had brought the level of the Sea of Galilee (in Hebrew called Lake Kinneret) down low enough to reveal a lake bottom that had not seen before. Buried far from the normal shore, wholly encased in mud, was the remains of a boat. In December 1985, the brothers from the nearby kibbutz Ginosar found it, and contacted the appropriate authorities. Shortly thereafter, archaeologists and locals began excavating it. The drought broke as they excavated, so they built a dyke to keep that area on land, and finished the excavation in a record 11 days by working around the clock. They encased it in polyurethane foam to keep it from collapsing, and then floated it on the newly rising waters to a dock. From there it moved to a conservation tank, where it sat for several years, as the conservation chemicals drew out the water and replaced it with a waxy substance. There is information about the different woods of which the boat is made (Cedar of Lebanon for the strakes, 11 others for the ribs). There is also information about the area and about a Roman-era mosaic of a boat uncovered earlier nearby.
The tale is told like a story one would read to children at bed-time, emotionally rather than factually. The facts are there, but beneath a layer of feeling. For instance, "Moshe and Yuval made their way back over the kibbutz pathways, their feet stepping on the ground, but their spirits floating somewhere up there above their heads." One can tell that the author is a poet and works with children, for this book feels like it might be appropriate for a Sunday school classroom, or perhaps as a story before bedtime. The final chapters provide an overview of the life of Jesus with respect to the local geography and with emphasis on fishing boats.
This is a beautiful book - excellent photography, with heavy clay pages to show those photos to advantage. I was a bit distracted by the slight shadow placed around all the photos and the type for the chapter headers - on the other hand, it instantly told me this was a book for children and young adults. It was originally written in Hebrew, and translated to English.
I found myself wondering at names - the author on the dustcover is identified as "Lea Lofenfeld Winkler", but in the book itself, she is everywhere listed as "Lea Lofenfeld." In the introduction, Moshe is referred to as "Moshele" - is that the full version of his name (like Jonathon for someone always called Jon)? Or is it affectionate (like Johnny for one named John)?
I personally prefer my archaeology books told with a more factual style. On the other hand, I don't think I was the intended audience, and I plan to give a copy of the book to the pre-teen children of a friend. I think they will enjoy it very much.
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were adults when they enter the story, but later they go to their father, Yanky, for advice, so now I am not sure. It would have been useful to indicate whether the brothers were children, teens, or adults at the time of the find. The photos of them show them as adults today. The story itself is fascinating. A several-year-long drought had brought the level of the Sea of Galilee (in Hebrew called Lake Kinneret) down low enough to reveal a lake bottom that had not seen before. Buried far from the normal shore, wholly encased in mud, was the remains of a boat. In December 1985, the brothers from the nearby kibbutz Ginosar found it, and contacted the appropriate authorities. Shortly thereafter, archaeologists and locals began excavating it. The drought broke as they excavated, so they built a dyke to keep that area on land, and finished the excavation in a record 11 days by working around the clock. They encased it in polyurethane foam to keep it from collapsing, and then floated it on the newly rising waters to a dock. From there it moved to a conservation tank, where it sat for several years, as the conservation chemicals drew out the water and replaced it with a waxy substance. There is information about the different woods of which the boat is made (Cedar of Lebanon for the strakes, 11 others for the ribs). There is also information about the area and about a Roman-era mosaic of a boat uncovered earlier nearby.
The tale is told like a story one would read to children at bed-time, emotionally rather than factually. The facts are there, but beneath a layer of feeling. For instance, "Moshe and Yuval made their way back over the kibbutz pathways, their feet stepping on the ground, but their spirits floating somewhere up there above their heads." One can tell that the author is a poet and works with children, for this book feels like it might be appropriate for a Sunday school classroom, or perhaps as a story before bedtime. The final chapters provide an overview of the life of Jesus with respect to the local geography and with emphasis on fishing boats.
This is a beautiful book - excellent photography, with heavy clay pages to show those photos to advantage. I was a bit distracted by the slight shadow placed around all the photos and the type for the chapter headers - on the other hand, it instantly told me this was a book for children and young adults. It was originally written in Hebrew, and translated to English.
I found myself wondering at names - the author on the dustcover is identified as "Lea Lofenfeld Winkler", but in the book itself, she is everywhere listed as "Lea Lofenfeld." In the introduction, Moshe is referred to as "Moshele" - is that the full version of his name (like Jonathon for someone always called Jon)? Or is it affectionate (like Johnny for one named John)?
I personally prefer my archaeology books told with a more factual style. On the other hand, I don't think I was the intended audience, and I plan to give a copy of the book to the pre-teen children of a friend. I think they will enjoy it very much.
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LibraryThing member zechristof
This book fashions an unusual and unexpected tie between a relatively minor archaeological discovery and the narratives of the New Testament gospels that focus so much on the geographical region around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus spent so much time around the Sea of Galilee. His most prominent
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disciples were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee when He called them to follow Him. Jesus Himself preached from one of their boats. He used the metaphor of fishing to encourage them into a new lifestyle that focused on reaching people with the good news of God;s kingdom. The boat referred to in the title is a fisherman's boat from the time of Christ that was somehow preserved in wet soil until its recent discovery. You will find the story of the boat and its ties to the time of Christ irresistible. This book has my highest recommendation. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2007-12
Physical description
104 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
9652295205 / 9789652295200
DDC/MDS
| 909 |