ABOUT THE ORION CENTER

Supported by THE ORION FOUNDATION and the SIR ZELMAN COWEN UNIVERSITIES FUND

• Aims and Purposes of the Center
• Hospitality at the Orion Center
• Contact Information
• The Staff
• Orion Center Governing Committees
• The Hebrew University

Aims and Purposes of the Center

The Orion Center was established in 1995 as part of the Institute for Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

RESEARCH ON THE SCROLLS

The Center aims to stimulate and foster research on the Scrolls, particularly the great task of integrating the new information gained from the Scrolls into the body of knowledge about Jewish history and religion in the Second Temple period. Such integration affects the study of the Bible, Jewish literature and thought of the Second Temple Period, earliest Christianity and the New Testament, early rabbinic Judaism, and more.
Center seminars and other programs give senior faculty and graduate students alike the opportunity to share the latest insights in scrolls study. Our web site provides many resources for the study of the Scrolls, as well as information about the Center's activities and programs. The Orion Center Bibliography of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides an essential, internationally known and used resource for scrolls scholars.

STUDY OF THE SCROLLS IN JERUSALEM

Many topics in the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls can be pursued best and uniquely at the Hebrew University and in Jerusalem. Such topics include the relationship of the scrolls to rabbinic literature and thought; their relationship to Jewish liturgy and piyyutim (Jewish liturgical poetry); the study of the scrolls as physical artifacts; the archeological context of the scrolls; and their relationship to other Judean Desert finds.

STUDY OF THE SCROLLS AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY The Center intends to focus and to coordinate the research presently being carried out at the Hebrew University, and to ensure a balanced and structured program of research and instruction. More specifically, the Orion Center organizes lectures in Hebrew and English (scholars’ seminars and presentation/discussion hours), and international symposia. In addition the Center offers scholarships for graduate and post-doctoral study of the scrolls related literature at Hebrew University.

HOSPITALITY

The Orion Center consists of an administrative office, publications office, and Scholars' Room/Library. The main administrative office is located in Room 3102, the Rabin World Center of Jewish Studies, at the Hebrew University (Mount Scopus). The Scholars' Room is Room 3101 in the same building. The Mt Scopus campus may be reached by bus lines 17, 19, 30, 34, 53, and 68. The Center provides a congenial meeting place where local and visiting scholars and students can discuss ideas, or just socialize over a cup of coffee, as well as pursue their own research.

SCHOLARS' ROOM

The Scholars' Room houses our expanding library, which includes many of the DJD volumes and a number of the publications in Brill's STDJ series. Our library now features the photographic plates used for the DJD series, donated to the Center by the Series editor, Emanuel Tov. Prof. Tov has also donated his archive of news articles about the Scrolls.
In addition to a PC with Internet access and on-campus access to the University Library resource, the Scholars' Room also has wireless connectivity so that scholars may use their own laptops.

FACILITIES FOR VISITING SCHOLARS

One of the aims of the Center is to provide a scholarly home for researchers from abroad, in the fields of Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Jewish literature, when they are working in Jerusalem. We endeavor to make their visits fruitful and facilitate their work. Visiting Scholars have ample access to the Scholars' Room facilities and to scanning and printing equipment available at the Center.
In addition, we encourage Visiting Scholars to participate in the teaching mission of the Center by presenting aspects of their work in a scholars’ seminar or in one of the other venues through which the Center presents information to the public.
If you are interested in an appointment as an Orion Visiting Scholar, please contact our office.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies
Rabin World Center of Jewish Studies
Room 3102
The Hebrew University
Mt. Scopus 91905
ISRAEL

E-mail:orioncenter@mail.huji.ac.il
Telephone: 972-2-588-1966
Fax: +972-2-588-3584

OFFICE HOURS

The Scholars' Room is open to researchers daily during working office hours or by appointment
If you are making a special trip to visit the Center, please contact us in advance.
OUR HOURS ARE:
Sunday-Thursday 9:00-15:00
Tel: +972-2-588-1966
Fax: +972-2-588-3584

The Director of the Center is Prof. Noam Mizrahi. He may be contacted by e-mail orioncenter@mail.huji.ac.il. To use the library, please contact Ms. Ruchama Roth or Dr. Ruth Clements at the same address.