ABSTRACT
Travelers in ancient times were exposed to many dangers that were echoed in rabbinic literature. They could get lost, die of hunger and thirst, or fall victim to the forces of nature at sea or on land.1 Wild animals seeking prey or hostile armies and foreigners might harm them.2 Those traveling by land faced the risk of meeting robbers and those at sea feared pirates.3 Although traveling was clearly a risky
1 Numbers Rabbah 2:12; BT, Berakhot, 54b. Rabbinical texts used in the paper are according to the following editions and translations: Avot de-Rabbi Nathan with two versions S. Schechter, (ed.) (New York, 1967), Aboth de-Rabbi Nathan J. Goldin tr. (English); BT = Babylonian Talmud (Vilna, 1886, reprinted frequently); The Babylonian Talmud J. Epstein, tr. (London, 1936 [English]); JT = Jerusalem Talmud Krotozhin edition, (n.d.), The Talmud of the Land of Israel J. Neusner tr. (Chicago, 1982 [English]); Midrash Exodus Rabba M. Mirkin (ed.) (Tel Aviv, 1959), Midrash Rabbah Exodus H. Freedman and S. Maurice (eds), S.M. Lehrman tr. (London, 1961 [English]); Midrash Genesis Rabba J. Theodor and H. Albeck (eds) (Jerusalem, 1965), Midrash Rabba Genesis H. Freedman and S. Maurice (eds), H. Freedman tr. (London, 1961 [English]); Midrash Leviticus Rabba M. Margulies (ed.) (Jerusalem, 1972), Midrash Rabba, Leviticus H. Freedman, S. Maurice (eds), J.J. Slotki tr. (London, 1961 [English]); Midrash Numbers Rabba M. Mirkin (ed.) (Tel Aviv, 1959), Midrash Rabbah, Numbers H. Freedman and S. Maurice (eds), J.J. Slotki tr. (London, 1961 [English]); Midrash Tehillim (Midrash Psalms) S. Buber (ed.) (New York, 1947), The Midrash on Psalms W.G. Braude tr. (New Haven, 1959 [English]); Mishna, Shishah Sidrei Mishnah H. Albeck (ed.) (Jerusalem, 1957), The Mishnah H. Danby tr. (Oxford, 1933 [English]); Pesiqta de-Rav Kahana B. Mandelbaum (ed.) (New York, 1962), Pesikta de-Rav Kahana, J. Neusner tr. (English); Tosefta (Tosephta) M.S. Zuckermandel (ed.) (Jerusalem 1936), Tosefta S. Liebermann (ed.) (Jerusalem, 1988), The Tosefta J. Neusner (ed.) (Atlanta, 1981 [English]); Yalqut Shim’oni (Venice, 1566 reprinted frequently). 2 BT, Berakhot, 60b; Tosefta, Yevamot, 14, Liebermann edn; JT, Yevamot, 16, 15d; BT,
undertaking, the roads of the ancient world were busy with traffic, reaching an unprecedented volume in the Roman era, when the political situation and the physical infrastructure created the opportunity for long journeys throughout the Mediterranean basin.4 Merchants, government officials, and military personnel traveled in caravans. In addition, a custom of traveling purely for the purpose of accumulating experiences, adventures, and knowledge, perhaps the earliest example of tourism, also developed.5
