CINCINNATI – Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times at Cincinnati Museum Center is transporting guests back in time and across the world for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. More than 600 artifacts and real fragments of the priceless Dead Sea Scrolls bring to life more than 2,000 years of history that shaped western culture and gave rise to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
In the next coming weeks, you can experience the exhibit for yourself and learn even more about this significant period in history during a series of free expert lectures. Visit www.cincymuseum.org for more information and to RSVP.
TUESDAY, JAN. 29
Who: Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn, Professor and Chair, Religious Studies Department Classics & Humanities Department Director, Jewish Studies Program San Diego State University, co-curator Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times exhibit
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29
What: Jewish and Christian Origins as Revealed by the Dead Sea Scrolls
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has revolutionized our understanding of Jewish and Christian origins. We have learned these groups were impacted by earlier Israelite religion, thought and tradition. This lecture explores the treasure trove of information found in the Dead Sea Scrolls about the rituals, practices and theology at the root of the Judeo-Christian world.
MONDAY, FEB. 4, 2013
Who: Dr. Jodi Magness, Senior Endowed Chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism
When: Monday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. lecture
What: The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 1947, A Bedouin boy accidentally discovered ancient scrolls in a cave on the shore of the Dead Sea. These remains of more than 900 different scrolls have come to be called the Dead Sea Scrolls, which include Biblical books and literature describing the beliefs and practices of the Jewish sect that originally deposited the scrolls. At least some of the members of this sect are believed to have lived at the site of Qumran. In this lecture, Dr. Magness will discuss the archaeology of Qumran and the connection between the site and the scrolls from the cave. Presented in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati Classics Department, Archaeological Institute of America and Israel@65.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013
Who: Dr. Eugene C. Ulrich, John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7
What: The Impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on our Bible
The Dead Sea Scrolls include approximately 240 Hebrew and Greek biblical manuscripts that are 1,000 years older than previously known manuscripts. They illuminate a previously undocumented period in the history of the biblical books, showing an organic process of developmental composition for the biblical books and raising questions about revelation, inspiration and the canon. In this lecture, a collaboration with Notre Dame Club of Greater Cincinnati, Dr. Ulrich will discuss how many of the Dead Sea Scrolls superior variant readings have brought improvements (including the recovery of a whole paragraph) to recent translations of the Bible.
The exhibition is open daily at 10 a.m. Last entry on Monday through Thursday is 5 p.m. Extended hours on Friday and Saturday with the last entry at 8 p.m., and Sunday until 6 p.m. We’re also open late (last entry at 8 p.m.) on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times is created by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) from the collections of the Israel National Treasures and produced by Discovery Times Square and The Franklin Institute. Local community partners include Presenting Sponsor: The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, and Associate Sponsors: the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the Diocese of Southern Ohio, SC Ministry Foundation, Office of the Provost, University of Cincinnati, and Xavier University, among others. Special Exhibit Partner: Hebrew Union College.