THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS IN THE HISTORIOGRAPHY AND SELF-IMAGE OF CONTEMPORARY KARAITES

Abstract

Karaism is the most resilient, longest surviving, Jewish sectarian form of religion, having presented an alternate, non-rabbinic Judaism for at least the past 1100 years. The term is usually taken to mean scripturalist, and, indeed, the Karaites claim that their religious law is in accordance with the biblical precepts, whereas rabbinic Judaism (or Rabbanism) is often, from their point of view, at variance with the Bible. The Karaites do not accept Jewish law as formulated in the Talmud and the post-Talmudic codes (such as the Shulhan Arukh), and they have developed their own law codes and religious practices. Over the years, Karaite observances have become closer to rabbinic practices in many respects, but there are still noticeable divergences between the two variations of Judaism. Today, there are approximately 30,000 Karaites in the world, most of whom are of Egyptian origin and live in the State of Israel.' How Karaism arose is still an open question, a question that has long intrigued both theologians and historians. These groups have looked to the Karaites in an attempt to reach a better understanding of Judaism. Rabbanite historiographers, claiming that rabbinic Judaism has been, is, and will be the one and only normative Judaism from