Events

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

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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