Religion: A Pillar of Potash

At Sodom (current population: about 1,000), where the Lord saved Lot and his naughty daughters, then rained fire and brimstone on the sinful city, a 6 ft. sign went up this month. Written in Hebrew and English, it noted that "Sodom is the lowest point of habitation in the world, 1,286 ft. below sea level." Then, after telling the Biblical story of Sodom's destruction, it added: "Today, Sodom is the center of Israel's potash production."

This marker was the first of 300 such guideposts to be erected in Israel, linking the busy present to the Old Testament past. Thus they will give modern Israelis a morale-boosting sense of their ancient glories. Still more important, perhaps, they will make tourism more rewarding for tourists—and tourists more rewarding for Israel. General Yigael Yadin, archaeologist and war hero who advises the government on historical matters, spelled it out for reporters. "Put yourself in the shoes of a person who was weaned on Bible stories. He dreams of visiting the places he has heard about since childhood. When he gets to Israel . . . nobody seems to know where they are . . . There are few people who would not want to be photographed against a signpost showing where David killed Goliath."