Our First Tiyul at Heller High:   Tel Gezer

by Eliza Wein,       10^th grade,         New York

On our sixth day in Israel, Heller High embarked on our first Jewish History tiyul, or field trip. We visited Tel Gezer, a man-made mountain with past layers of civilization stacked on top of each other like the layers in a wafer bar. While we were here, we learned about how the Canaanites lived 4,000 years ago and how this site has changed over time.

Four thousand years ago, Tel Gezer, now blanketed in green grasses and beautiful red kalanyot flowers, used to be home to a thriving community of people called the Canaanites. Some of structures they built have been excavated and we were able to see them. Observing these structures offers valuable insights on the lifestyle and beliefs of these people.

Around the hill we saw open space used for agriculture, including vineyards. We learned the Canaanites also depended on these same areas for growing food. I thought it was rather amazing that thousands of years ago these fields were being used for the same purpose.

Further along, we explored a cave dug by the Canaanites to access the groundwater that seeps down through the porous bedrock. Inside we heard the echoing cries of bats that make the artificial cave their home. Thousands of years after the residents of the city had faded away, the ditches they dug to sustain themselves are still supporting life.

Back in the day of the Canaanites, Israel was conveniently located between the powerful civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia. This strategic placement allowed Gezer (along with other cities in Israel), to become thriving trade hubs. With many different and sometimes hostile peoples passing through, it became important to protect from invaders. In response, the people of Gezer built a gigantic wall and guard tower (the ruins of which we were able to see) that kept the city safe.

Further along the path we were met with a special surprise- Abraham and Sarah came for a talk! They weren’t fans of the Canaanites- in Abraham’s words, “Dude, they’re stupid dude.” Perhaps it was their polytheistic beliefs, or their frequent child sacrifices, but Sarah and Abraham avoided Canaanite cities, instead preferring to roam the countryside as nomads. They believed in one God they called יהוה. Abraham and Sarah were so strongly opposed to the Canaanites that they didn’t want their son Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, because they believed he would adopt their gods through marriage.

While we explored around the Tel, David taught us about some of the archaeological finds at Gezer and why they were important. One rather disturbing find here was of the bones of children in a vessel near the worship alters the Canaanites used to pray to their gods so that there would be rain. Another important find here is a calendar with the ancient Hebrew alphabet that was used to keep track of harvest months and to teach children. This is significant because at the time it was discovered (1905) it was the oldest example of written Hebrew ever found. It is also important because it shows how children may have been educated. Lastly, the defense tower at Gezer is the largest ever found in Israel.

After seeing all the ruins, some of which were oddly sophisticated, the image of the Canaanites as an advanced people comes to mind. I can hardly imagine how someone might build a large stone tower without modern tools, chisel out and transport massive stone pillars, or make complicated clay vessels by hand. With regard to child sacrifice, it was their way of explaining events, and they didn’t know any better since it was commonly practiced back then my many peoples. Like we believe in the weather forecast, they truly believed what they were doing was the only way to bring rain, because they didn’t have the scientific knowledge to have an alternate explanation.

As we wrapped up the tiyul and had tefilah under a shady tree, it gave us time to reflect on the trip we had just done and imagine what life must have been like four millennia ago.