The name “Canaan,” which derives from the Bible and from ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern records, generally refers to the region of present-day Israel, western Jordan, Lebanon, and coastal and southern Syria and is more or less equivalent to the modern term “Levant.” Ancient texts from the region indicate that its population was of Semitic origin. The earliest mention of Canaan and Canaanites dates from the eighteenth century BCE, but the terms are now often applied to the region and its population in relation to earlier periods as well. Relations between Canaan and Egypt, its southwestern neighbor, are attested by textual evidence and archaeological remains dating as far back as the fourth millennium BCE. These relations were determined by political developments in both regions and thus were continually changing. Egypt’s earliest organized contacts with Canaan were associated with the importation of luxury goods sought by the rising Egyptian elite around the time of the unification of Egypt in the late fourth millennium BCE. It was at that time that cultural interaction between the two regions commenced, gradually increasing over the course of the third and second millennia BCE and varying to a great extent in accordance with political developments in both regions. Join us as explore the archaeological evidence reflecting the relations between Egypt and Canaan, with a focus on the political and cultural implications of these relations. We will visit Jaffa, Megiddo and Beit Shean as well as a few more sites where important Hyksos and Egyptian jewelry have been found.

Nachliel Selavan “The Museum Guy”, originally from Jerusalem’s Old City, has Bachelor’s degrees in both Tanach and Mass-Media along with a teachers’ certificate. He also holds an MA in education from Hebrew University’s Melton School of Jewish Education, and is currently completing a second Master’s degree in Ancient Jewish History at Yeshiva University, along with doing annual fieldwork in archaeological excavations. Nachliel’s unique approach to museum tours and storytelling combines Tanach, Jewish History and other disciplines, engaging visitors with the treasures of art and archaeology in an exciting and enthralling way. Nachliel has engaged Jewish communities in cities all over the world with guided educational programs in classrooms and museums, and lectures and tours for Jewish schools, summer camps, organizations and institutions including the WZO, National Bible Contest USA, the Jewish Agency and UJA Federation. He currently lives in Israel, and aside from guiding in the Israel and Bible Lands Museums, he is a part-time high school teacher.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Adath Jeshurun (Elkins Park, PA), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth David (Westminster, CA),Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Temple Judea of Laguna Woods, CA, The Boston Synagogue (Boston, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)