The central figure associated with the sea route during the Hasmonean period is – Yohanan Hurcanus. He reconquers Gezer and Afek, understanding their importance as a connection with the wider world and especially… with Egypt. So the connection to Egypt returns!
We will examine the figure of Yohanan Hurcanus – is he Yohanan the High Priest? Is he a positive or negative figure? How is he related to the expansion of Hellenistic culture? And how is he related to the halachic question – if it is permissible to say “bye” instead of “shalom”?
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