Dead Sea Scrolls
Exhibit & Programming
The Jewish Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of “The Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times”, an exhibit that will run from November 15th through mid-April at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Exhibits of this stature are typically seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Museum Center, which will be the only museum in the Midwest, and one of only a few museums in the United States, to host the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Jewish Foundation is sponsoring the exhibit because it gives Cincinnati an opportunity to experience something thoroughly unique. We believe the Dead Sea Scrolls will enrich our community, as this exhibit showcases precious artifacts that are full of significance to Jewish tradition, and also deeply meaningful for people from many different backgrounds, faiths and cultures.
In addition to the exhibit at the Museum Center, several community organizations have organized complementary exhibits, scholarly lectures and other programming related to the Dead Sea Scrolls, all of which is part of our community’s celebration of Israel’s 65th birthday. You can read descriptions of these programs below.
Programming in partnership with community institutions
- The Lichter Lecture Series: Are The Dead Sea Scrolls Dead?
- PJ Library Goes to Israel
- Shalom Family’s Mini Maccabees at the Children’s Museum
- JCC513’s Night at the Museum
- Dead Sea Scrolls—Florence Melton Adult Mini School
- Dead Sea Scrolls Podcasts
- Dead Sea Scrolls College Course – UC Department of Judaic Studies
- Cincinnati Heritage Programs: Cincinnati Jewish Heritage Step-on Tour
- Dead Sea Scrolls Speakers Bureau
- Dead Sea Scrolls: Professional Development and Training
- Jewish and Israeli Film Festival Kickoff
- Israel@65 Community Partner
A full list of all Dead Sea Scrolls programming can be found on the Cincinnati Museum Center website. Please note that all times, dates and other program details may be subject to change. Please contact the specific organizations listed.
The Lichter Lecture Series: Are The Dead Sea Scrolls Dead?
presented by the UC Judaic Studies Department
Insights Lecture Series and Lichter Lecture Series: Dr. Carol A. Newsom
Angels and Demons in the Dead Sea Scrolls
This lecture investigates how the Dead Sea Scrolls describes angels and demons. By investigating angels and demons in the Scrolls, we have a better understanding of how the Dead Sea community viewed themselves and their opponents.
Date: October 15
Time: 7 p.m.
Target Audience: Adults
Fee: None
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center – Reakirt Auditorium
Collaboration with the Lichter Lecture Series: Are The Dead Sea Scrolls Dead? presented by the UC Judaic Studies Department
Dr. Hershel Shanks
What Do We Learn From the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Hershel Shanks provides a basic overview of the Scrolls from the perspective of an informed and involved “archaeological outsider.” He has a unique vantage point as a lawyer and journalist and because of his direct involvement with a number of issues associated with the publication of the scrolls. Shanks particularly addresses the question of the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls to society at large.
Date: November 12; 7 p.m.
Target Audience: Adults
Fee: None
Location: Mayerson Jewish Community Center
Dr. Norman Golb
Dead Sea Scrolls, Essenes, and Qumran
Norman Golb explains some of the debates concerning the meaning of the scrolls, especially since he advocates a position that differs from the scholarly consensus and yet still continues to merit consideration. He believes that the people associated with the scrolls, the Essenes, and the settlement of Qumran represent three distinct groups. He also is interested in the popular representation and understanding of the scrolls. Golb offers a sober reminder of what we can and cannot learn from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Date: November 19; 7 p.m.
Target Audience: Adults
Fee: None
Location: University of Cincinnati
PJ Library Goes to Israel
Join the PJ Library, brought to you by the Mayerson JCC for stories, crafts and special surprises as you and your little one learn about the history and culture of Israel.
Date: December 14
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Target Audience: Early Childhood
Fee: Free with Museum Admission
Location: Duke Energy Children’s Museum
Collaboration with Mayerson Jewish Community Center
Shalom Family’s Mini Maccabees at the Children’s Museum
Date: Sunday, December 2
Time: 3 – 5 p.m.
Open To: families in the Jewish community with children 12 and younger in which at least one parent is Jewish. Siblings and grandparents welcome.
Fee: FREE with advance RSVP to myshalomfamily.org. Free parking with RSVP. Space for this event is limited and will fill up.
Special Activities: Time capsule photo booth where families can snap a photo for future generations to find and take a few home for themselves… PJ Library Hanukkah Story Time… Make your own Maccabee shield… Dead Sea Scrolls related activities… Hanukkah cookies and more
Location: Duke Energy Children’s Museum
Shalom Family is an initiative of The Mayerson Foundation
JCC513’s Night at the Museum
Date: Saturday, February 9th
Time: 7:30pm
Open To: Jewish teenagers in 9th-12th grade.
Fee: $15/person with advance RSVP to JCC513.org after January 20. (subject to change). Space is limited.
Special Activities: All inclusive overnight at the Museum with activities planned by and for teens… midnight showing of an Omnimax movie… snacks… breakfast the next morning followed by a visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. Tickets to the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit made possible thanks to the generosity of The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati.
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center
JCC513 is a program of The Mayerson JCC
Dead Sea Scrolls—Florence Melton Adult Mini School
In the first of this three session class we explore how the scrolls were discovered and the 60 year process of making their content public (including the role of Cincinnati scholars in the process). During the second class, we will examine the significance of the discovery of the scrolls for understanding how the Hebrew Bible came to be. In addition, a tour of the exhibit will follow. The final session will include a discussion on how the scrolls have changed our knowledge of Judaism and Christianity in the first century of the Common Era.
Dates: December 6, December 13 and December 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Fee: JCC and CMC Members: $45; Nonmembers: $50
Audience: Adults. Event is open to the Public.
Location: MP1 and Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition on 1 date
Collaboration with Mayerson JCC, HUC and Florence Melton Adult Mini-School.
Dead Sea Scrolls Podcasts
This new series, as part of the UC Classics Ancient World Podcasts, feature Cincinnati and its ties Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. These series bring together experts in ancient history, language, and archaeology from our department, from UC’s Judaic Studies Department, and from Hebrew Union College to share their passion and knowledge about the Classical world.
http://classics.uc.edu/index.php/podcasts
Dates: Available starting in November, 2012
Target Audience: Audiences of all ages with an interest in the past
Fee: Free
Location: http://classics.uc.edu/index.php/podcasts; also available on iTunes Community Program designed by UC Department of Classics, UC Department of Judaic Studies and Hebrew Union College.
Dead Sea Scrolls College Course – UC Department of Judaic Studies
This course is a survey covering the discoveries of Dead Sea Scrolls and their contents. It includes analysis of selected themes, discussion of their relevance to Christian origins and later developments in Judaism and evaluation of their impact in the 20th century.
Date: August 27 to December 7 and January 7 to April 27
Target Audience: University and Non-degree Students and Adults
Fee: Varies as per University of Cincinnati’s policies and procedures.
Non-Degree Students: http://admissions.uc.edu/transfer/transfer_non-matric.html
Seniors 60 and older may be able to audit a course free of cost: http://admissions.uc.edu/transfer/transfer_sr-audit.html
Location: University of Cincinnati
Community Program designed by UC Department of Judaic Studies
Cincinnati Heritage Programs: Cincinnati Jewish Heritage Step-on Tour
This tour includes stops at Isaac M. Wise Plum Street Temple, Hebrew Union College and the Skirball Museum and is available only to groups booking a visit to Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times on the same date. Call 513 287 7068 to book this tour.
Dates: This tour is available on Thursdays with a one month advance request
Time: Departing at 9 a.m.
Fee: This tour is available for groups with their own motor coaches at $150.00, plus the cost of lunch. Donations at each location are left up to the discretion of the group ($30 each is customary). Dead Sea Scrolls group admission is $19 for a group of 15 or more with an advance reservation. The Audio Guide can be added at $2 per person with a group reservation.
Target Audience: Adults/Groups
Location: Start at Cincinnati Museum Center
In Collaboration with Isaac M. Wise Plum Street Temple, Hebrew Union College and the Skirball Museum
Dead Sea Scrolls Speakers Bureau
Want to learn more about the Dead Sea Scrolls? Have one of Cincinnati’s academic lecturers come to your event and give you a glimpse into the ancient times around these priceless artifacts. Dates and Times are by appointment only and are subject to availability. Call 513 287 700 x7227 for details
Dates and Times are by appointment only and are subject to availability.
Target Audience: Adults
Fee: Free
Location: In the community
Collaboration with Hebrew Union College, UC Department of Judaic Studies, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, College of Mount Saint Joseph and Sisters of Charity Cincinnati
Dead Sea Scrolls: Professional Development and Training
Floor staff and volunteers can hear from members from Hebrew Union College and the University of Cincinnati Department of Judaic Studies about the story, archaeology and significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Dates: November 5, November 7 and November 8
Target Audience: Those working in the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition
Fee: Free
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center
Collaboration with Hebrew Union College and UC Department of Judaic Studies
Jewish and Israeli Film Festival Kickoff
Walk the red carpet as Cincinnati Museum Center teams up with the Mayerson Jewish Community Center to kick of Cincinnati’s annual Jewish and Israeli Film Festival (Film TBD)!
Date: TBD
Time: TBD.
Fee: TBD per person includes, film, exhibit and reception
Audience: Young Professionals. Event is open to the public.
Locations: Reakirt Auditorium, DECM Lobby, Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition
Collaboration with Mayerson Jewish Community Center
Israel@65 Community Partner
In 2013 Israel will celebrate the 65th anniversary of its independence. Many of Cincinnati’s Jewish community organizations along with city-wide community partners have joined efforts to celebrate this landmark, and together have created a six-month community calendar of programs and celebrations under one unifying brand, Israel@65. Cincinnati Museum Center is a community partner and CMC’s special event is the exhibit Dead Sea Scrolls.
Dates and Times vary by community partner. CMC’s dates and times are the run
of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit
Target Audience: All Ages
Location varies by community partner. CMC’s location is DSS.
Community Program organized by the Mayerson JCC