26 Friday, December 10, 1982 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jerusalem's Shrine of the Book IAGEI: By SIMON GRIVER World Zionist Press Service / \ A watch doesn't only tell time, but tells who you are. DISTINCT DESIGNS MAKE T.H. GRANT UNIQUE Jewelry Designers & Manufacturers of Original and Unusual Creations • Authorized Appraisers • Estate Liquidators /Ill. HOURS 31313 Northwestern \ Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - 5:00 Farmington Hills Ogi nc. /VI Sunday, December 12 and December 19 851-7333 11-4 I JERUSALEM — The Shrine of the Book is the second most popular single site in Israel after Jerusalem's Western Wall. During 1981 more than 700,000 people from both Is- rael and abroad visited the home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is part of the Israel Museum complex in Jerusalem. At first glance such mas- sive public interest, greater than in the Knesset, seems a mystery. After all, the ragged pieces of parchment contain only so much scrib- ble in the eyes of most who look at them. In fact it is the story behind the scrolls that captures of the imagination, Friday Saturday and Sunday Only! V Neck Lambswool Sweater Obr imported Australian Lambswool Sweater provides the comfort and classic fashion that is pleasing to any man. Available in a wide variety of colors. Reg. $50.00 NOW $3488 Elegant Holiday Outerwear By Bill Blass Bill Blass blazes a trail in sophisticated out- erwear that provides warmth without weight. A perfect holiday gift. Reg. $100.00 NOW $6988 See our complete fA selection now available in the Orchard Mall on Orchard Lake Road North of Maple Rd. in West Bloomfield 851-9444 • Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat. 10-6 • Thurs. (Si. Fri. 10 9- - Sunday 12-5. The Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. in particular the life style of tally Jewish, whether it the Essenes, the unusual be the final victory of the Jewish sect who composed Messiah, or the final and kept the scrolls. revolution of Marx. Indeed, since the scrolls The Essenes disappeared were discovered by a Be- after 70 CE. They were bit- douin boy, who in 1946 terly opposed to Roman rule found seven manuscripts and although no official re- concealed in isolated cord exists, the occupiers cave overlooking the Dead presumably got the better of Sea, more than 10,000 the eventual showdown. books and articles have Despite delving in every been written on the subject. possible direction Broshi Further searches in the has been unable to ascer- area by archeologists have tain how many people actu- brought to light an addi- ally belonged to the sect. tional 700 scrolls. "But ultimately the influ- The Essenes them- ence that people can have," selves also attracted a he says, "bears no relation great deal of attention to their numbers." from their contem- Broshi has found evi- poraries. The most zeal- dence of an Essene Dias- ous were men who re- pora, probably in Greece. In sided in a place called all likelihood these people Qumran, on the north- would have had the greatest west shore of the Dead influence over the early Sea, living a celibate Christian disciples. Nor and monastic life. They were all Essenes celibate. were totally untypical of Many of the less zealous Jews and in being the lived in otherwise regular, first-ever monks, their family-oriented com- influence on the early munities. Christians cannot be The Shrinef the Book doubted. also contains other The Essenes lived during manuscripts of great hn- the period of the Second portance. An expedition Temple and the subsequent in 1960 led by Prof. Yigael Roman occupation. They Yadin, whose father had are recorded by Pliny, acquired the first scrolls, Josephus and other histo- discovered 35 documents rians of the time and Jesus hidden in a cave in the mentioned them too. An- Judean Desert. These other theological tenet of were written by a group the Essenes that distin- of Jewish rebels fleeing guished them from Roman oppression mainstream Judaism was a around 135. Many are the belief in pre-destination, records of a lady named allowing no room for human Babata and they provide free-will or choice. an invaluable insight into More than 200 of the 700 the life - style of the time. scrolls contain texts from Those wishing to catch a the Old Testament. In fact glimpse of all these scrolls almost everything is there have no•choice but to come except the book of Esther. to Jerusalem. The parch- According to Dr. Magen ment does not travel well Broshi, curator of the and no scrolls have been Shrine of the Book since its loaned since Expo '68 in inception in 1965, this exc- Canada. lusiori is no coincidence. The architecture of the "The levity of the book of Shrine of the Book has al- Esther would not have ap- most attracted as much at- • pealed to the Essenes," he tention as the scrolls them- explains. "The banquets, selves. Designed by Ameri- the drunkenness and can architects Frederick Esther's flirtation with Kisler and Armond Bartos, Ahasuerus would not have the structure won a gold been to the sect's taste." medal from the American One of the most famous Architects Association. scrolls tells of the war be- But on its completion in tween the children of light 1965 the aesthetic of recep- and the children of dark- tion that the architecture of ness. The book is something the Shrine of the Book re- of a military manual, pre- ceived was not entirely rap- paring the children of light turous. Some felt the design for the final battle in which clashed with the Jerusalem they will overcome evil, and landscape. But time has good will reign in the world. made the building a part Broshi points out that and parcel of the Jerusalem this philosophy is typi- skyline.