High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Ancient Jewish life was concentrated around Jerusalem, located some distance from the sea. Therefore, Jews were initially not very interested in seafaring or navigation. After 142 BCE, Jews got ports of their own. Joppa (Jaffa), Ashdod and Gaza were added to Hasmonean dominions, and a small number of Jewish sailors was created. After that, historic references provide some evidences of Jews fighting as pirates.