Saturday, June 10, 2006

MORE INFORMATION on the upcoming Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition in Kansas city:
Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit here could sell out, sponsors say
By: Rick Hellman, Editor June 09, 2006 (Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)

One way or another, the Dead Sea Scrolls involve salvation.

When it was formally announced at a press conference Tuesday that some of the scrolls would be exhibited at Union Station Feb. 8-May 13, 2007, Rabbi Morris B. Margolies spoke of the ethical precepts contained in the biblical texts that make up part of the scrolls.
"Love your neighbor as yourself," said the rabbi emeritus, who will serve as the exhibit's on-site scholar-curator. "If you don't, you'll have a world of evil. If you do, you'll have a world of good."
Meanwhile, just days after announcing he would have to lay off one-fourth of Union Station's paid staff to cure a persistent budget deficit, CEO Andi Udris foresaw a blockbuster exhibition with black ink flowing to the station's bottom line.
"We're taking on our financial issues, and, at the same time, producing this internationally acclaimed exhibit," Udris said. "And this is how you do it; with exhibits like this."
I hope this helps with the museum's financial straits. Other similar exhibits have certainly been very successful.

The article includes a detailed lists of scrolls to be exhibited:
Scrolls in the exhibit

Genesis-Exodus (1st century CE)
Among the 14 copies of Genesis and Exodus that were found in the Qumran Caves, only this scroll contains both books. The fragment that will be displayed is parallel to chapters 35-39 of the Masoretic (i.e., standard Jewish) text.
Joshua (2nd century BCE)
The earliest known copy of Joshua. The fragment describes the events that took place after the Israelites' arrival in the Land of Canaan.
Psalms (1st century CE)
Fragment is parallel to Psalms 135-136, which are classified as Hymns of Praise. It extols the Lord for his greatness as creator of the world and as deliverer and redeemer of his people.
Job (1st century BCE)
Fragment corresponds to Chapter 36:7-16 and 23-33 in which Elihu describes to Job how God watches the righteous.
Isaiah commentary (1st century BCE)
Many of the Qumran manuscripts employ a unique style of biblical commentary: the pesher method. The writers quoted biblical text, and after each quote attempted to interpret how the words of the Bible had been realized in contemporary events according to the worldview of the sect. This commentary includes quotes from Isaiah Chapter 11:1-2 and their interpretation.
Community Rule (1st century BCE- 1st century CE)
Rules by which the members of the Qumran sect lived their lives. This fragment describes the need and readiness of the members to worship and praise the Lord by praying at fixed intervals.
Deuteronomy (replica of 1st century BCE scroll)
Contains Deuteronomy 8:5-10, which includes the Ten Commandments.
Aramaic Apocalypse (replica of 1st century BCE scroll)
Similar to the apocalyptic section of the biblical book of Daniel. The manuscript refers to a "Son of God" and "Son of the Most High." The interpretation of this phrase is disputed among scholars: is this a reference to a historic ruling figure or to an apocalyptic sovereign who will establish God's reign on earth?
Damascus Document (replica of 1st century BCE scroll)
The Damascus Document was discovered in the Cairo genizah, a collection of ancient Hebrew texts, in 1896. This replica deals with scale disease and its purification.
Paleo Leviticus (replica of 2nd-1st century BCE scroll)
Written in the ancient Hebrew script known as Paleo-Hebrew, this fragment comprises the last chapters of the book of Leviticus, dealing with laws of worship, of damage and of slaves, as well as the Israelite festivals, the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement.
There is also lecture series with a stellar cast of scholars.

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