Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem
Living the Lunar Calendar: Time Text and Tradition
30th January-1st February 2010
QUMRAN
Qumran, an archeological site situated on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, contains remains from various times in antiquity. In the first century BCE and the first century CE it was occupied by a small hermit community. During the Jewish War the place was stormed by the Romans and ruined. It became famous in 1947 when a great number of ancient manuscripts, dated between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE were found in nearby caves. These manuscripts are commonly referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The relation between the hermit community at Qumran, the Jewish sect of the Essenes, and the scrolls found at the site, remains hotly debated until today. The scrolls shed light on a pivotal point in history, around the Common Era, a crucial period in the formation of rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity.
PROGRAM AT QUMRAN (all times approximate)
14:30 Arrival at Qumran
15:00 Tour of the site
17:12 Sunset
18:02 Short observation of the night sky at Moonrise
18:30 Dinner in local restaurant (included in fees)
Lecture by Jonathan Ben-Dov, University of Haifa, Israel
Schematizing the Lunar Calendar: Time Reckoning in the Dead Sea Scrolls
20:00-21:30 Last look at the moon and return to Jerusalem
WHAT TO BRING TO QUMRAN
Lunch and dinner will be provided. There will be an opportunity to purchase refreshments at the site.
*All programs subject to change.