Judaism Demystified Podcast with Professor Schiffman

Introduction

• Podcast Focus: Dead Sea Scrolls
• Guest: Professor Schiffman
• Context: Historical significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Discovery: In caves at Qumran, near the Dead Sea (1947-1950s)
  • Around 900 manuscript remnants found
• Dating: Copied between 225 BCE and the turn of the era
• Sectarian Library: Likely gathered by the Essenes, a second temple Jewish sect
  • Main Types of Texts:
    1. Biblical Texts: All books of the Tanakh except Esther and Nehemiah
    2. External Books: Texts known to second temple Jews
    3. Sectarian Texts: Specific to the sect's views and practices

Significance of the Scrolls

• Three Categories of Texts:
  • Bible Texts: Fundamental for understanding Jewish scriptural traditions
  • External Jewish Texts: Includes previously unknown works
  • Sectarian Documents: Offers insights into unique religious views
• Scholarly Reassembly: Many texts were reassembled like a jigsaw puzzle
• Non-Christian: Pre-Christian Jewish texts, no direct links to Christian figures
• Library Context: Not official Jerusalem or Temple library, collected by a particular sect

Professor Schiffman's Interest

• Initial Research: Inspired by a university project comparing Dead Sea scroll poetry with Psalms
• Significance of Textual Knowledge: Recognized need for deeper understanding of early Jewish texts
• Contribution to the Field: Analysis of forgotten or less-studied texts
• Personal Impact: Reinforced perception of continuity in Jewish ritual and scriptural practice

Compelling Texts

• Temple Scroll: Detailed study leading to significant publications
  • Historical Anecdote: Involvement of Yigael Yadin and the acquisition of the scroll
• MMT Text: Collection of laws highlighting Sadducee views
  • Collaboration: Work with Professor Andrew Gross
• Sadduceean and Pharisee Comparison:
  • Sadducees: Strict, literal interpretations, found some of their rules reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls
  • Pharisees: Views continued through rabbinic Judaism
  • Scholarly Value: Reveals intellectual and religious debates of the period

Dead Sea Scroll Variants and Canon Development

• Types of Texts:
  • Proto-Masoretic Texts: Very similar to later standardized Masoretic texts
  • Septuagint Texts: Influences the Greek Bible
  • Samaritan Texts: Featuring harmonistic variants
  • Mixed Texts: Do not neatly align with known categories
• Standardization: Transition to exclusively Proto-Masoretic texts in later periods like Masada and Bar Kochba caves
• Historical Continuity: Masoretic text's closer connection to original Hebrew vs. variations in other dialects

Messianic and Apocalyptic Beliefs

• Different Systems:
  • Non-Messianic Messianism: Idealist future without a specific Messiah figure
  • Davidic Messiah: Traditional Jewish belief, echoed in early Christianity
  • Dual Messiahs (Aaronic and Davidic): Particular to certain Dead Sea texts
• Christianity: Combination of Davidic and Priestly Messiah concepts
• Jewish Perspectives:
  • Utopian Messianism: Progressive improvement until Messiah's arrival
  • Catastrophic Messianism: Massive war leading to divine intervention

Insights on Sectarian Views

• Predestination: Absolute divine predestination
• Sectarian Exclusivity: Belief in their unique truth, criticizing other Jews
• Historical Relevance:
  • Lessons on Extreme Positions: Historical context helping modern discussion
  • Separate Tradition: Importance of not conflating sectarian texts with authoritative Jewish texts

Relevance to Modern Times

• Jewish-Christian Relations: Highlighting Judaism's historical importance to Christianity
• Holocaust Impact: Influenced interfaith dialogue and rejection of anti-Semitism
• Scholarly Impact: Provides historical and poetic insights, useful but not authoritative

Conclusion

• Positive Effects: Contributed to improved Jewish-Christian relations
• Historical Insight: Useful in understanding Second Temple Judaism, but not part of the canonical tradition