The Dead Sea Scrolls: Understanding Their Spiritual Message FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect the belief and experience of generations of Jews, spanning a period of almost three centuries, from the Maccabean Revolt to the destruction of Jerusalem. Steven A. Fisdel seeks to open a window onto this critical period of time, so pivotal in the development of Judaism and in the emergence of Christianity. By presenting the historical backdrop and letting the scroll literature speak for itself, this work gives the reader a better understanding of the state and content of Jewish belief during the height of the Greco-Roman Era; an age of broad diversity in religious thought and of great spiritual richness.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
There is no end to the scholarly fascination with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Rabbi Steven Fisdel's contribution to the research into the Dead Sea Scrolls is marked by meticulous scholarship and accessible language. Fisdel provides a brief historical overview in which he discusses the social and political context in which the scrolls developed as well as the importance of the scrolls in the history of the development of Judaism. He then discusses the Essene community from which the Scrolls emerged, giving time to various literary, historical and archeological perspectives. Although Fisdel maintains scholarly objectivity, he writes with a warmth and obvious excitement for his subject that make his book an admirable and lively addition to Dead Sea Scrolls studies. (July)
Library Journal
Rather than filling his work with arguments to support one or another view of who wrote the Dead Sea scrolls and the precise nature of the Qumran complex, Fisdel, rabbi of the Congregation Beth Israel in Chico, California, paints a portrait of a deeply spiritual community concerned with corporate and individual holiness. He takes a middle-of-the-road position regarding the identity of the authors of the Qumran writings, particularly the material unique to them (identified as "Sectarian" literature). He draws attention to the strong emphasis on spirituality and holiness in the Sectarian writings, even when the focus of a document is the Law or the Temple. Fisdel's admiration for the Qumran community results in his putting a very human face on these people; his work will elicit a greater appreciation for their place in Jewish (and even Christian) history.Craig W. Beard, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Birmingham
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