A Skirball Academy Class
Dr. Alex Jassen
Uncovering The Lost Books of The Bible
While today’s standard Hebrew Bible contains 24 books, they did not suddenly appear as a single text at one single moment; the canonization evolved over centuries, involving discussions among religious and scholarly leaders. In this course, we will explore that evolution, the books that were ultimately excluded, why they were left out and how we still know about them today. We will explore lost books such as the Wisdom of Ben Sira, the books of Maccabees, Enoch and the Jubilees among others, and discuss what the Dead Sea Scrolls teach us about the origins of the Bible.
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
October 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25
$220 | $150 Temple Emanu-El members
Free for Friends of Streicker
Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at NYU, Dr. Alex Jassen is a scholar of ancient Judaism and member of the international editorial team responsible for the publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His research focuses on how Jews in antiquity used the literature of the Bible, Second Temple and rabbinic Judaism to carve out new cultural and religious identities.
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
October 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25
$220 | $150 Temple Emanu-El members
Free for Friends of Streicker
While today’s standard Hebrew Bible contains 24 books, they did not suddenly appear as a single text at one single moment; the canonization evolved over centuries, involving discussions among religious and scholarly leaders. In this course, we will explore that evolution, the books that were ultimately excluded, why they were left out and how we still know about them today. We will explore lost books such as the Wisdom of Ben Sira, the books of Maccabees, Enoch and the Jubilees among others, and discuss what the Dead Sea Scrolls teach us about the origins of the Bible.
Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at NYU, Dr. Alex Jassen is a scholar of ancient Judaism and member of the international editorial team responsible for the publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls. His research focuses on how Jews in antiquity used the literature of the Bible, Second Temple and rabbinic Judaism to carve out new cultural and religious identities.