The Faces behind the Scrolls

Four of the seven Dead Sea Scrolls – The Great Isaiah Scroll, Community Rule Scroll, Commentary on Habakkuk Scroll, and the Genesis Apocryphon – underwent a long journey from their 1947 discovery by Bedouin shepherds in the Qumran caves to their display in the Shrine of the Book. Who were the people whose lives became entwined with these two-thousandyear- old scrolls through a fascinating chain of events involving discovery, deciphering, photographing, and dramatic acquisition? Photographs, documents, and items relating to these key figures are on display in this exhibition, which sheds new light on one of the most significant discoveries of the twentieth century.

Muhammed edh-Dib and Jum'a Muhammed Khalil Eskander Shahin (Kando)
Curtesy of: James Trever, USA

Athanasius Yeshue Samuel
Curtesy of: Charlie Mnoog, USA

John Trever
Curtesy of: James Trever, USA

Roland De Vaux
Curtesy of: Ecole biblique et archeologique

Yigael Yadin
Curtesy of: Eddie Hirschbein, Bitmuna Collections

James Bieberkraut
Israel Museum

Helene Bieberkraut
Curtesy of: Rani Tachauer, Kibbutz Gevaram