BAS Establishes Institute for Dead Sea Scroll Studies
The Biblical Archaeology Society is establishing an Institute for Dead Sea Scroll Studies (IDSSS) to facilitate the dissemination and exchange of information and research materials concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls among all scholars.
“The success of the IDSSS,” said Hershel Shanks, president of the Biblical Archaeology Society, “will depend on two factors—the cooperation of scholars and the availability of funds.”
The Institute hopes to publish a new journal of Dead Sea Scroll Studies (DSSS). It will provide scholars with up-to-the-minute information regarding research tools and aids, identification of texts, new transcriptions and new translations.
In addition, the Institute hopes to provide a scholarly forum for considering better ways to handle the publication of future manuscript finds.
All scholars (whether affiliated with an academic institution or not) are invited to become a member of the IDSSS. Membership is $100 per year. Checks should be sent to IDSSS, 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20008. Those who do not wish to become members but who wish to receive the Institute’s mailings may do so at a cost of $80 per year. Institutional memberships are available at $500 per year.
The Institute is also seeking other financial support for its activities. Indeed, the extent of its activities will depend on this support. The Institute is seeking patrons who will contribute $500 and benefactors who will contribute $1000, hopefully on an annual basis. If you would be willing to consider becoming a patron or a benefactor, let us hear from you. Please make checks payable to BAS–IDSSS. All contributions are tax-deductible. (BAS is a charitable institution registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) organization.)
We request anyone working on the texts made available in BAS’s new facsimile edition of the scrolls to let us know what you are doing so we can advise other scholars. If you identify any of the plates, please give us this information so we can pass it on to other scholars. Similarly, if you transcribe or translate any of the texts.
We would also be pleased to hear from anyone regarding what other activities the Institute should undertake.