The Dead Sea Scrolls are considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. They were largely unknown to the public until recently when documentaries and even tabloid articles tried to explain them. The story of their discovery is reminiscent of plots found in Agatha Christie novels and Indiana Jones movies. These scrolls are fascinating because they are ancient texts from Judea, dating back to around the time of Jesus. Before their discovery, there were very few Hebrew and Aramaic texts from that period. Many hoped that these scrolls would provide insight into Jesus's life, the lives of people around him, and ancient Judean society during the time of the second temple.
This lecture aims to explore how the Dead Sea Scrolls can enhance our understanding of historical events from our shared past.
Your Instructor: Idan Peysahovich recently completed his MA program at Florida State University specializing in the study of Religions of Western Antiquity. He also holds a BA from Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Prior to his relocation to the USA in 2015, Idan held several senior positions working for The Jewish
Agency in Jerusalem. Idan was the regional representative of a large Israel-based NGO working in several East European countries and in the Central Asia States promoting and organizing intercultural understanding and educational programs for the youth.