The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/dead-sea-scrolls/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:03:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Dead Sea Scrolls | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/dead-sea-scrolls/ 32 32 Takamitsu Muraoka, Japanese pioneer of Dead Sea Scrolls Hebrew studies, dies at 88 https://www.timesofisrael.com/takamitsu-muraoka-japanese-pioneer-of-dead-sea-scrolls-hebrew-studies-dies-at-88/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:51:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3755625 A prominent specialist in Semitic languages, Muraoka was proud to describe himself as the first Japanese student to complete a PhD at the Hebrew University

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]]> The oldest complete biblical scroll ever found was originally split in 2, scholar finds https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-oldest-complete-biblical-scroll-ever-found-was-originally-split-in-2-scholar-finds/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:17:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3723517 Study comes as 'Great Isaiah,' a 24-foot-long text parchment found with the Dead Sea Scrolls, set to be displayed by the Israel Museum in full for the first time since 1968

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]]> Computers taught to read Dead Sea Scrolls in hunt for clues hidden from human eyes https://www.timesofisrael.com/computers-taught-to-read-dead-sea-scrolls-in-hunt-for-clues-hidden-from-human-eyes/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:00:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3631856 By combining multispectral imaging with computer vision methods, Tel Aviv University researchers give scholars new tools to read, match, and study the 2,000-year-old artifacts

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]]> ‘Abba of Naburya has perished’: Unique 1,900-year-old inscription found in Dead Sea cave https://www.timesofisrael.com/abba-of-naburya-has-perished-unique-1900-year-old-inscription-found-in-dead-sea-cave/ Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:31:24 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3614401 Four-line Aramaic text, one of the few legible inscriptions from the era, may be tied to the Bar Kochba Revolt. The words were spotted only inches away from hidden Roman swords

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]]> Daily Briefing June 9: Day 612 – Will Shas bring down the coalition? https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-june-9-day-612-can-shas-bring-down-the-coalition/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:12:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3568092&preview=true&preview_id=3568092 Political correspondent Sam Sokol on Haredi parties' bids for draft exemptions threatening the government; archaeology reporter Rossella Tercatin on new studies on the Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls

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]]> New study revolutionizes Dead Sea Scrolls dating, might rewrite Israel’s history https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-study-revolutionizes-dead-sea-scrolls-dating-might-rewrite-israels-history/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:45:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3565950 Trailblazing interdisciplinary system, combining AI and radiocarbon dating, indicates the precious artifacts may have been written decades - or even centuries - earlier than previously believed

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]]> Study: Ancient phylacteries’ natural leather color illustrates evolution of Jewish law https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-ancient-phylacteries-natural-leather-color-illustrates-evolution-of-jewish-law/ Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:24:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3311279 Analysis of 2,000-year-old tefillin found in Judean Desert caves shows no dye was used in their construction; deep black is mandated by contemporary Jewish Law

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]]> In breakthrough, parts of Herculaneum scroll, buried by Vesuvius eruption, deciphered https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-breakthrough-parts-of-herculaneum-scroll-buried-by-vesuvius-eruption-deciphered/ Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:17:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3221610 Three students crack previously unreadable ancient philosophical text with machine learning software developed to read damaged Dead Sea Scrolls

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]]> First recorded evidence of Yom Kippur depicts day of affliction as sectarian struggle https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-recorded-evidence-of-yom-kippur-depicts-day-of-affliction-as-sectarian-struggle/ Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:41:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3104193 Prof. Yonatan Adler, author of 'The Origins of Judaism,' cites dramatic passage from the Dead Sea Scrolls that shows Hasmonean-era jostling for religious authority

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]]> Crack unit of rock-climbing archaeologists claims success in curbing antiquities theft https://www.timesofisrael.com/crack-unit-of-rock-climbing-archaeologists-claims-success-in-curbing-antiquities-theft/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:10:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3089494 Six years into wide-scale Judean Desert cave survey operation, few Dead Sea Scrolls fragments are found. But the Land of Israel's historical picture is ever more in focus, says IAA

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]]> Week’s best: Queen’s complex bond with Jews and King Charles III’s ties to Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-weekend-edition/2022-09-11/ Sun, 11 Sep 2022 11:19:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2834312 PLUS: Who is new UK PM Liz Truss? * Horovitz op-ed on deadly crime in the Arab community * First Temple-era 'Dead Sea Scroll'? * Podcast: Jewy-American author Elyssa Friedland

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]]> Ancient text said to solve mystery of why Dead Sea Scrolls were placed in Qumran https://www.timesofisrael.com/1000-year-old-document-may-reveal-why-dead-sea-scrolls-were-stashed-in-qumran/ Tue, 28 Sep 2021 20:23:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2623294 Israeli researchers believe 1,000-year-old document from Cairo Geniza shows site hosted an annual event where Essene sect gathered, bringing religious scriptures they left behind

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]]> Doing what no human eye can, AI reveals secrets of Dead Sea Scroll’s creation https://www.timesofisrael.com/doing-what-no-human-eye-can-ai-reveals-secrets-of-dead-sea-scrolls-creation/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:54:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2529172 Computers analyzing tiny details of famous Isaiah Scroll spot different styles indicating 2 scribes, and opening new avenues into understanding origins of ancient documents

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]]> Dead Sea scroll discovery brings tantalizing prospect of more yet to be found https://www.timesofisrael.com/dead-sea-scroll-discovery-brings-tantalizing-prospect-of-more-yet-to-be-found/ Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:26:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2507283 With another 20 promising caves to be excavated -- and 25% more of the Judean Desert still to be surveyed -- stunning finds in Cave of Horror unlikely to be the last

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]]> Podcast: Daily Briefing Mar. 16 – The daring mission to save Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.timesofisrael.com/podcast-daily-briefing-mar-16-the-daring-mission-to-save-dead-sea-scrolls/ Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:08:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2507318&preview=true&preview_id=2507318 Tune in Sunday through Thursday to hear ToI editors and reporters quickly catch you up on what’s important today

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