Queries & Comments

The Scrolls Belong to Us

I wish to express my respectful disappointment and disagreement with the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court (“Qimron Owns Dead Sea Scroll Copyright, Israeli Court Holds,” Strata, BAR 26:06).

The scrolls belong to humankind and not to a single scholar. We ordinary people who are not scholars but who have the right to be informed should all be grateful to Hershel Shanks, John Marco Allegro and the others who have dedicated their time and efforts (frequently unrewarded) to fighting the ignorance of a few fellows who selfishly want to keep secret what is a common interest.

Scrolls are not Catholic, Protestant or Jewish, they are simply history, our history.