This class will deal with the most important finding (reg. Judaism) of the 20th century: The over 800 texts found around Tel Qumran. What precisely do they contain? Who wrote them? Are they the product of one group or more – and if so what kind of groups? The Essenes as suggested mostly? What theological sociological and other ideas are uttered in these scrolls? Etc.

Introduction; The ‘Community’, its structure and spiritual world; Qumran Law and the Relations to Later Rabbinic Literature; The ‘Teacher of Righteousness’; Calendar; The Priests