Zev Vilnay

Zev Vilnay (Vilensky) (1900-1988) was an Israeli geographer, author and lecturer.

Biography

Zev Vilnay was born in Kishinev. He moved to Palestine with his parents at the age of six and grew up in Haifa. He served as a military topographer in the Haganah, and later in the Israel Defense Forces. "Encyclopedia Judaica", "Zev Vilnay," Keter Publishing, Jerusalem, 1972, vol. 16, p. 151] Vilnay and his wife Esther lived in Jerusalem. Their son, Matan Vilnai is a member of the Knesset [ [http://www.jnf.org/site/PageServer?JServSessionIdr006=44e1hl9ky2.app20a&pagename=pr_Preserve Jewish National Fund: Thousands Support JNF-KKL's Battle to Preserve Open Spaces in Jerusalem ] ] and Israel's deputy minister of defense.

Land of Israel studies

He was a pioneer in the sphere of outdoor hiking and touring in Israel. Vilnay lectured widely on Israeli geography, ethnography, history and folklore. His "Guide to Israel" was published in 27 editions [ [http://www.israeli-books.com/the_vilnay_guide_to_israel.asp The Vilnay Guide to Israel 2 vols ] ] and translated into many languages. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1DD1F39F930A15752C0A96E948260 Zev Vilnay, Geographer, 87 - New York Times ] ]

In the 1974 edition of his guide, Vilnay describes how he helped bring back to Israel the boat of a British naval officer, Thomas Howard Molyneux, who sailed the Jordan River from Lake Kinneret to the Dead Sea to map the region in the 19th century. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/919876.html 19th-century British explorer's boat returns to Dead Sea - Haaretz - Israel News ] ]

Published works in English

*"Legends of Palestine" (1932)
*"The Guide to Israel" (first published in 1955)
*"The Holy Land in Old Prints and Maps" (1965)
*"The New Israel Atlas: Bible to Present Day" (1968)
*"Legends of Jerusalem" (3 volumes)
*"Legends of Judea and Samaria"The Vilnay Guide to Israel
*"The Vilnay Guide to Israel: A new Millennium Edition (2 volumes) (1999)

Published works in Hebrew

*"Enziklopediya Liyidiat Haaretz" (3 volumes) (1956)
*"Yerushalayim" (2 volumes) (1960-62, 1970)
*"Tel Aviv-Jaffa" (1965)
*"Yehudah Veshomron" (1968)
*"Sinai, Avar Vehoveh" (1969)
*"Golan Vehermon" (1970)
*"Matzevot Kodesh Be'eretz Yisrael" (1963)
*"Eretz Yisrael Betmunot Atikot" (1961)

References