Shem is the son of Noah traditionally associated with the ancestors of the Israelites.
Genesis 10 presents a table of nations descended from Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Shem’s genealogy continues in Genesis 11 through Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, and later generations leading to Abraham. Since the Israelites are traced through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Shem is traditionally linked with their ancestry.
The term “Semitic” was later formed from Shem’s name and became associated with languages and peoples of the ancient Near East. Modern linguistic classification uses “Semitic” for a language family that includes Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, and others; it is not a simple biological category.
Ham and Japheth have different genealogical roles in Genesis 10. Canaan is listed as a descendant of Ham, not as one of Noah’s sons. These relationships are why “Canaan” is not an alternative answer to this question.