Major Players

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New Chief Editors

Emanuel Tov. A brilliant young scholar from Hebrew University. Whether he is an effective administrator remains to be seen. Recently published a fragmentary scroll of the 12 minor prophets in Greek.

Eugene Ulrich. Notre Dame University professor. Brilliant student of Cross and Strugnell. Cross reassigned most of his Biblical texts from Wadi Qumran to Ulrich in 1985. Ulrich inherited the hoard of Biblical texts assigned to Catholic University professor Patrick Skehan, who died in 1980. Eleven years later, Ulrich is reportedly ready to publish some of them. Claims, according to the Jerusalem Post, that the editing of the Dead Sea Scrolls “has in fact suffered not from footdragging but from undue haste.” Says the demand for quicker publication repects the attitude of our “fast-food society” and its quest for speedy gratification. Concedes his own “arrogance” as the basis for his belief that allowing outside scholars to work on the scrolls would produce irremedial mistakes. Adamantly opposes releasing photographs of unpublished texts. Considers BAR’s effort to obtain release of the scrolls “evil.” Refused to appear at a Smithsonian forum with BAR’s editor.

Emile Puech. A brilliant young French priest who works at the École Biblique in Jerusalem. Inherited the substantial hoard of Father Jean Starcky, who died in 1988. Reported to be unwilling to give up any part of his “publication rights” to other scholars, despite urgings by the Israeli oversight committee.

Team Editors

Frank M. Cross. One of the world’s leading Biblical scholars and probably the most influential. Recently retired from Harvard. A great friend of Israel and of the Jewish people. The only non-Jewish member of the editorial advisory board of Moment, one of this country’s leading Jewish magazines. At age 32 he was the elder statesman of the original scroll publication team in 1953. Has published comparatively little of his scroll assignments. An avid perfectionist. Warm, generous, principled, extremely well respected. His many dedicated doctoral students over the decades provide him with a network of inpuence. Adamantly opposed to releasing photographs of the unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls. The eminence grise behind the scroll editing team. His advice to excluded scholars: “Be patient. It will all come in good time.”

John Strugnell. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Professor of Christian origins at Harvard Divinity School. Never wrote a book. A wonderful teacher. A generous, caring mentor. An original member of scroll editing team, appointed in 1953 at age 23. Since 1987, chief editor of the scroll editing team. An alcoholic. A manic-depressive. An anti-Semite. Rabidly anti-Israel. Warm and friendly to individual Jews and Israelis. Beloved by many of his students; others regard him as arrogant. Does not suffer fools gladly. Recently removed from his post as chief editor. Remains in control of a substantial hoard of unpublished texts.

J. T. Milik, the third original editing-team member who remains on board. A former Catholic priest from Poland, he is now married and living in Paris. Does not answer mail, even from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Joined the team at age 31 and is now 69. According to Time magazine, when the scrolls were distributed among the team, he was the “fastest man with a fragment.” A brilliant decipherer, he received many of the choicest texts to edit. His unpublished hoard is probably the largest. However, he has also been the most productive member of the team, publishing more than any other single scholar. On the other hand, since 1976 he has done little. According to Catholic University professor Father Joseph Fitzmyer, Milik “will publish little more of the texts in his lifetime.” Milik has recently disgorged approximately a third of his holdings for reassignment to other scholars. Declared a fellow scholar’s decision to release photographs of the unpublished scrolls “irresponsible.”

Israeli Oversight Committee

Magen Broshi. Long-time curator of the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem, where most of the intact scrolls are housed. When queried about the 054slow pace of Dead Sea Scroll publication, he replied, “There’s no urgency; it’s not like we’re dealing with cancer.” Claims to have known for 20 years that former chief editor John Strugnell is an anti-Semite. His reaction: “Entirely irrelevant.”

Jonas Greenfield. Brilliant, highly regarded Hebrew University linguist. For 15 years served on BAR’s editorial advisory board. Resigned last year in opposition to BAR’s effort to obtain release of the unpublished scrolls. Considers BAR’s editor an “enemy of Israel.” After receiving a scroll assignment, he voted against an offer by an American philanthropic foundation to provide up to $100,000 to publish photographs of the secret texts, including the scrolls assigned to him.

Shemaryahu Talmon. Highly respected Biblical scholar, emeritus at Hebrew University. Could probably be persuaded to release photographs of the unpublished texts if the decision were his alone. To insure he does not defect, Talmon has been given a hefty scroll assignment all of the Qumran texts dealing with calendars.

Amir Drori. With little background in archaeology, he was appointed director of the Israel Department of Antiquities in 1988 and serves ex officio on the Israeli scroll oversight committee. A taciturn, inarticulate man, he is accustomed to criticism: A retired major general, Drori commanded all Israeli troops in Lebanon during the Israeli incursion in 1982.

New Chief Editors

Emanuel Tov. A brilliant young scholar from Hebrew University. Whether he is an effective administrator remains to be seen. Recently published a fragmentary scroll of the 12 minor prophets in Greek.