This program is made possible by MGSDII. The Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative (MGSDII) seeks to strategically promote, support and catalyze knowledge discourse and interaction on the modern state of Israel through scholarship, engagement and collaboration. The MGSDII is a network of Israel Studies programs on San Diego campuses including UC San Diego (UCSD), San Diego State University (SDSU), CSU San Marcos (CSUSM), University of San Diego (USD) and Cal Western School of Law supported by a growing consortium of charitable funders. The programs include academic courses led by visiting Israeli professors; collaborative classroom learning and travel programs; master classes and lecturers; filmmaker and artist residencies; conferences and symposiums; and community education opportunities. To learn more, visit https://mgsdii.org/

Jerusalem is maybe the most excavated place on earth and still,l basic questions regarding its history are fiercely debated among scholars. Yuval will present new findings from the ongoing excavations at Jerusalem and the “City of David” and explain how they contribute to our understanding of the city during the 2nd and 1st millenniums BCE and how that translates to today.

The lecture will include more information on the latest discoveries that had reached the media such as ‘Jerusalem’s Ivories: https://www.timesofisrael.com/were-first-temple-jerusalemites-living-in-lap-of-luxury-rare-ivory-finds-offer-clue/ and the Wine and Vanelin: https://www.sci.news/archaeology/ancient-vanilla-wine-10794.html

Prof. Yuval Gadot is the head of the Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures at Tel-Aviv University and the lead archaeologist at the ‘City of David’ excavations project. Gadot obtained his Ph.D. in 2004 from Tel Aviv University. Since then he has been the author of seven archaeological books and over 100 scientific. In Jerusalem, he is the co-director of the ‘Givati Parking Lot’ Excavations and he is also leading an environmental study of the rural landscape surrounding the city. Prof. Gadot is an MGSDII Visiting Professor at the Department of Anthropology at UCSD. He is married and has three children.

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event takes place on campus at Beth Israel. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.