Books The elusive search for the Ark of the Covenant By Yehudit Collins “THE A.R.K. Report,” with A.R.K. stand- lain of the piece, dressed in the Hollywood the Temple are secretly buried in its vaults, ing for Archeology – Reveals – Kingdom idea of the vestments of the high priest, be- which it isn’t prepared to either acknowl- of Israel, deals with the mysterious location fore opening the Ark and meeting his doom, edge or deny. of the Ark of the Covenant. In a disclaimer raises his hands and mutters an incantation; Part of the book is taken up with inter- at the beginning of the book, author Harry among the mumbo jumbo, Spielberg had fun views that the author gave to Governor Mike H. Moskoff says, “No person can claim to inserting words such as "Tushbechan" from Huckabee and other prominent personali- know for certain where the biblical Ark of Jewish prayers. ties. There is also a section of opinion pieces the Covenant lies. The precise location of But as Moskoff reminds us, Spielberg got he wrote for The Jerusalem Post. this secret chamber will remain hidden un- one thing right: The Ark can and did have a In his conclusion, Moskoff – a Canadi- til it is Divinely decreed to be revealed by deadly effect. In the book there is the theory, an-born ordained rabbi who now lives in means of Elijah the Prophet.” Of course, he taught to me many, many years ago by my Israel with his family – theorizes that the does present us with a chapter called “The brother who was a physicist, that the Ark is search is not so much for the lost Ark of the Moskoff Theory.” But when Moskoff was an electrical conductor. Other theories hold Covenant, but for the chamber in which it asked if, given the chance, he would enter that it is radioactive. In his book “Chariots lies hidden, which he believes is somewhere the tunnels to locate the Ark, his answer was of the Gods,” Erich von Daniken theorizes beneath the Temple Mount. a resounding no! As Moskoff writes in his that the Ark of the Covenant was a radio The sages dispute whether the Ark will disclaimer, the contents of the book and the transmitter allowing Moses to communi- actually appear in the Third Temple or theories presented are strictly academic in cate directly with God, whom von Daniken not. While it never actually says in Ezekiel nature. describes as a space explorer from another, (Chapters 40-43) and in the Talmud that the It took me much longer than I thought it more advanced civilization from a planet, Ark will return to the future Holy of Holies would to finish reading this book. This was far, far away. chamber, there are hints elsewhere that in- not because the book was heavy or boring; And clearly this leads to the question, deed the Ark will eventually be placed there, on the contrary. This comparatively slim should the Ark be located, who would be according to Moskoff. book punches far above its weight in inter- able to touch it given that no one in our mod- est and information. The book encompasses ern age has the proven priestly lineage, or religion of course, but also politics, biblical high degree of ritual purity? and political history, ideology, opinions and Then politics rears its head, with even even a dash of science and physics. the CIA being interested enough to monitor The reason it took me so long to read was archeological digs being conducted by Dr. because I was constantly trying to learn Vendyl Jones (said to be the real-life model more and rather like the tunnels branching for Indiana Jones) at Qumran in an effort to from tunnels under the Temple Mount, some locate some of the Temple artifacts. Yasser known, some waiting to be discovered, my Arafat famously told Bill Clinton in 2000 searches on the Internet led me on to more that Solomon’s Temple was never situated and more branches of intriguing fields. I in Palestine and therefore the Jews had no have to confess that my sleep suffered as I connection to the Temple Mount, because switched between the book and the Internet, after years of digging, no artifacts had not willing to give up on a particularly in- been found, a statement both tendentious triguing fact and go to bed. and false. And should the Ark be located, The search for the Ark of the Covenant has it would cause a massive political upheaval been the subject of many books and films. throughout the world. The A.R.K. Report – The Lost Ark of the The most familiar one at this time would The Vatican also feels it has a stake in Jews and the Modern State of Israel be Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones Raid- Israeli biblical history, and there is a per- Secret for the century ers of the Lost Ark.” For those who haven’t sistent rumor that golden vessels, vestments Harry H. Moskoff seen the film, a spoiler alert. When the vil- and other implements used by the priests in 267 pages; $45 THE JERUSALEM REPORT MARCH 5, 2018 45.