Page 15 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition
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Shrine of the Book, the museum dedicated to the
Dead Sea Scrolls. The ceiling mimics the shape of
the jars used to store some of the scrolls that were
found in some of the Qumran caves.
Photo: courtesy of Shutterstock
with a trip to Ein Gedi (where David fled from The entrance to the famous Cave 4 at Qumran,
Saul in 1 Samuel 24) and Masada (the desert which yielded the remains of almost 600
palace retreat of Herod the Great and the manuscripts. Photo: courtesy of Shutterstock
place of the final siege of the Great Revolt
against the Romans, in AD 73).
The Magdala Stone on display at the Ronald During a trip to the Holy Land, one should synagogue, most likely to support Torah
Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, also visit the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Scrolls for reading, and features detailed
2025. Carved around the turn of the era, Museum in Jerusalem. This is the home of the carvings of the temple.
this limestone block would have served as a Dead Sea Scrolls today and where some of the The remains from Masada illustrate the
ceremonial table or platform for the Torah or other scrolls from the first cave are displayed. These amazing engineering by Herod the Great
sacred scrolls in the synagogue. Photo: courtesy scrolls also happen to be some of the best and the tragic ending of the rebel group
of Running Subway in partnership with Israel preserved, especially the Great Isaiah Scroll that was conquered by the Roman Tenth
Antiquities Authority that was found in Cave 1, a facsimile of which Legion. During the 1960s when Masada was
is exhibited. Besides seeing the Shrine of the first excavated, the storehouses that were
1950s, with other seasons of digging Book, the Israel Museum has so many treasures among the ruins still had food in them for
continuing up to the present. One of the from the world of biblical archaeology. Be sure archaeologists to research. Dates, walnuts,
most interesting discoveries was the system to give yourself time to enjoy. pomegranates, wheat, and barley were
that channeled waters from the hills to the For those who want a sneak peek at the Dead some of the foods discovered.
settlement. From the non-biblical texts Sea region and to experience some pre-trip The Dead Sea region offers so many exciting
discovered at Qumran, a hyper-concern learning about the scrolls, the Israel Antiquities places to encounter the lives of ancient kings,
on purity makes the need for water to fill Authority is currently traveling to a Dead rebels, shepherds, and scribes. Despite the
the many miqvaot (ritual baths) at the site Sea Scrolls exhibit in the United States. Two number of tourists, the feeling of being away
essential. museums were chosen to host this exhibit: from civilization at Qumran and other places
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and along the shore of the Dead Sea helps visitors
Today, Qumran has become a major tourist Museum near Los Angeles and Museum of step back into the world of the Bible. On a
site. The gift shops are full of products from the Bible (MOTB) in Washington, DC. The very hot day, which is most days, respect
the Dead Sea and one can sample local exhibition at MOTB will run from November increases for the people who left the hills
produce, like dates. A visit here usually pairs 22, 2025, through September 7, 2026. around Jerusalem to live in this region. After
This exhibition features three rotations of an exciting day at Qumran and other sites
Dead Sea Scrolls and hundreds of artifacts along the western shore of the Dead Sea, you
that contextualize that time and region. will be glad to enjoy the air-conditioned bus
Two additional highlights of the exhibition
are the Magdala Stone and artifacts from ✦on your journey back to Jerusalem!
Masada. The former was found at the site
of the hometown of Mary Magdalene.
This stone table was used in a first-century
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