EB1_3560-3568The ancient Romans, commenting on the Land of Israel, mentioned three things that set it apart. The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which contained not a single statue, the Sabbath, when no one worked, and the Dead Sea, in which nothing could live and in which everything floated.

Today scientists have discovered the therapeutic benefits of the minerals mined from the Dead Sea and as a result a strong cosmetic industry has developed along the shores of the Dead Sea, e.g. at the Ahava Factory Outlet across from Mineral Beach.

In addition the spas and hotels at the Dead Sea resort of Ein Bokek offer treatments for various ailments based on therapies which include the minerals of the Dead Sea and the sunshine.

The Dead Sea has something else going for it which you don’t often hear about but for anecdotal reports: the high concentration of Bromine in the Sea, when found in the gaseous state in the air above the Sea promotes a feeling of well-being. But we cannot at this time claim a scientific basis for these reports (source: “Leisure, Pleasure and Healing: Spa Culture and Medicine in Ancient Eastern Mediterranean”, by Estee Djorvetski in “Supplement to the Study of Judaism” Journal).