Lawrence Schiffman

Lawrence Schiffman
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Name	Lawrence Schiffman
Birth date	1948
Birth place	New York City, United States
Occupation	Historian, Judaist, University Professor
Alma mater	Yeshiva University, Columbia University
Employer	New York University
Known for	Dead Sea Scrolls research, Second Temple Judaism studies

Lawrence Schiffman is an American historian and scholar of Judaism best known for his expertise on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Second Temple Judaism, and Jewish law. He has served as a professor, author, and editor, contributing to public understanding of ancient Jewish texts, Qumran studies, and the historical context of Rabbinic Judaism, Pharisees, and Sadducees. Schiffman's work bridges academic, religious, and public audiences through teaching, publications, and media appearances.

Early life and education

Schiffman was born in New York City and attended Yeshiva University where he studied under scholars connected to Rabbinical Seminary of America and Cardozo School of Law influences within Orthodox circles. He pursued graduate studies at Columbia University, completing a Ph.D. with dissertation work related to Dead Sea Scrolls material and Second Temple Judaism texts. During his formative years he engaged with collections and archives at institutions such as the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the Hebrew Union College, and the American Jewish Archives.

Academic career and positions

Schiffman has held faculty positions at New York University, including appointments in the Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies and affiliated programs connected to Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. He has lectured at institutions such as Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Schiffman has served on editorial boards and advisory committees for projects at the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation, and international bodies linked to the publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Dead Sea Scrolls research and publications

Schiffman is a leading scholar on the Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran community, contributing to scholarship on manuscripts including the Community Rule (Serekh HaYahad), the War Scroll (Milḥamah)], the Thanksgiving Hymns (Hodayot), and texts from Qumran Cave 4. He has written on themes connecting scrolls to Pharisees, Essenes, Sadducees, Temple in Jerusalem, and the Hasmonean dynasty. Schiffman participated in scholarly debates over scroll provenance, paleography, and Hebrew and Aramaic linguistic features, engaging with fellow scholars associated with the Israel Antiquities Authority, École Biblique, Oxford University Press publications, and collaborations with editors tied to the Discoveries in the Judaean Desert series. His work addresses the relationship between the scrolls and the rise of Rabbinic Judaism, comparisons with Dead Sea Scrolls sectarian handbooks, and implications for interpretations of Second Temple sectarian movements.

Contributions to Jewish studies and Second Temple Judaism

Schiffman has published widely on Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and figures of the period such as Herod the Great, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and members of the Hasmonean dynasty including John Hyrcanus and Alexander Jannaeus. He has analyzed legal texts including Mishnah, Tosefta, and Mishnah Torah contexts in relation to Qumran documents, engaging with comparative work involving Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, New Testament writings, and Hellenistic Judaism. Schiffman has contributed to interdisciplinary dialogues with scholars of ancient Near East, classical studies, biblical studies, and patristics, participating in conferences alongside academics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Princeton Theological Seminary, Vatican Library projects, and centers such as the Center for Jewish Studies at major universities.

Awards, honors, and professional affiliations

Schiffman has received recognition from organizations including the American Academy for Jewish Research, the American Philosophical Society-affiliated forums, and awards connected to Hebrew University collaborations and international pottery and manuscript preservation initiatives. He has served as president of the Association for Jewish Studies and held fellowships at institutes like the Institute for Advanced Study, the American Academy in Rome, and research associations linked to the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation. Schiffman is a member of editorial and advisory boards for publications at Oxford University Press, Brill Publishers, and journals such as the Journal of Jewish Studies and Dead Sea Discoveries.

Selected publications

- The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Jewish Origins of Christianity (book series and articles engaging New Testament, Philo of Alexandria, Josephus). - Qumran Studies: Texts and Contexts (edited volumes with contributors from Harvard Divinity School, Oxford, Cambridge). - Essays on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Rabbinic Judaism (collected reviews and monographs). - Numerous articles in journals including Journal of Biblical Literature, Dead Sea Discoveries, Jewish Quarterly Review, and edited collections published by Brill Publishers and Oxford University Press.

Personal life and legacy

Schiffman has lectured publicly at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New-York Historical Society, and cultural institutions including the Jewish Museum (New York), influencing public understanding alongside academic impact. His students have continued scholarship at institutions like Yeshiva University, Brandeis University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and University of Chicago. Schiffman's legacy includes shaping modern discourse on the Dead Sea Scrolls, fostering links among scholars at Yale University, Princeton University, Brown University, and international research centers, and contributing to museum exhibitions, media documentaries, and educational programs related to Second Temple Judaism and ancient Jewish manuscripts.

Category:American historians Category:Judaic scholars