Schiffman DSSHJ 2000

Schiffman is a professor of Hebrew and Judiac studies at NYU. This article explores the relation of the Dead Sea Scrolls to Jewish History. The scrolls have sometimes wrongly been treated as if they were Christian writings. And Schiffman begins his discussion by suggesting that they do reveal something about the Judaism of Jesus' time. The first section is on the centraility of Jewish law. It was the law that lined up different groups within the community. The Pharisees and Sadducees had conflict when it came to theology. The next section is on the development of Rabbinic law. Rabbinic law formed out of biblical traditions as well as civil law and complex interpretations. Schiffman closes by saying since the destruction of the second temple the Dead Sea Scrolls is what we have to continue Jewish law traditions.It is a transition that needs to be understood and followed.