Thousands gather at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
In an absorbing day of illustrated lectures, archeologist Jodi Magness, an expert in early Judaism, examines a variety of aspects of Jewish belief in the late Second Temple period (1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.) in Palestine and the Diaspora.
9:30–10:45 a.m. What Is Ancient Judaism?
Magness offers an overview of the characteristics of Judaism in the time of Jesus and the apostle Paul, and how Jews of the era interacted with and worshiped the God of Israel.
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Dead Sea Scrolls
In the late 1940s, ancient religious manuscripts were accidentally discovered near the site of Qumran on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Eventually, the remains of approximately 1,000 scrolls were found in 11 caves surrounding the area, deposited by members of a Jewish sect who inhabited the region. Explore the archaeological remains of Qumran and the meaning and significance of the scrolls.
12:15–1:30 p.m. Lunch (participants provide their own)
1:30–2:45 p.m. Modern India as a Window into Ancient Judaism
Religious practices modern India provide useful insights into understanding how ancient Jews and other peoples in the Roman world interacted with their gods, the functions of temples and priests in worship, and the nature of ritual purity laws.
3–4:15 p.m. Ancient Jewish Communities of Asia Minor
Much of Paul’s apostolic mission was conducted in Asia Minor, now modern Turkey, home to a thriving Jewish diaspora by the 1st century. Magness surveys the literary, epigraphic (inscriptions), and archaeological evidence of these Jewish communities through the Roman period.
Magness is the Kenan distinguished professor for teaching excellence in early Judaism at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
