The Dead Sea Scrolls, Hebrew Union College, And Reform Judaism 1948–2008

Abstract

This chapter is a part of a much longer, ongoing, research project based upon a systematic review of how the Dead Sea Scrolls influenced modern religious life in general and modern Jewish religious movements in particular. It can be broken down into four different parts: (1) how the Cairo Geniza discovery influenced modern Reform and Conservative Judaism in the early twentieth century and paved the way for the influence of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-twentieth century; (2) the issues concerning the importance of the Scrolls for modern Jews in the Reform and Conservative movements become clearer through some comparisons between the movements; (3) the Dead Sea Scrolls in Friday Night Sermons of Reform Rabbis with special attention to developments at Hebrew Union College from 19502000; and (4) the influence of the Dead Sea Scrolls upon Reform and Conservative Responsa, Liturgy, and Bible Commentaries. Keywords: Cairo Geniza; Dead Sea Scrolls; Hebrew Union College; Rabbis; Reform Judaism