Thursday, July 21, 2016

Hebrew Ben Sira conference

ANNIVERSARY:
“Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting:
Ben Sira's Hebrew Text, 1896-2016”


12-14 September 2016

St John's College, Cambridge


A conference on the 120th Anniversary of the Cairo Genizah Discoveries.

Sponsored by the Polonsky Co-Exist Fund, University of Cambridge and the ISDCL.

On the 120th anniversary of the discovery of the Genizah manuscripts of Ben Sira, this conference will consider the particular contributions of the Hebrew manuscripts of Ben Sira, in connection with the language and transmission of the book. Despite the existence of six versions in the Genizah as well as the scroll from Masada and two tiny fragments from Qumran, the characteristics of each Hebrew witness have been neglected and their palaeography is due for serious consideration.

In this light the conference will examine the features of individual manuscripts, the synoptic problems of the witnesses, their text-critical value and the history of the discoveries. It will also consider the place of the manuscripts in Jewish literary history, the Hebrew language of Ben Sira, and the interpretative character of the Hebrew.
Follow the link for further particulars. Bookings close on 10 August 2016. This is another one I wish I were able to attend.