I published The Moses Scroll five years ago today (24 February 2021). Thousands have read the book and despite its controversial content, most reviews have been positive. Top scholars have engaged my work and referenced it in leading journals (Semitica, Dead Sea Discoveries, Palestine Exploration Quarterly, etc). But beyond the accolades I am excited about what lies ahead.
At the close of my retelling of the “most controversial case in the history of Biblical scholarship,” I wrote the following.
“May this work serve as a call for a long-overdue and well-deserved reassessment of what very well might be the greatest manuscript discovery of modern times. As Moses Shapira told Strack, ‘The question will be for scholars to decide.’ Especially important in this regard is the advice of Georg Ebers to Eduard Meyer. He told his protégé, ‘It is no art to declare suspicious things wrong, but it takes courage and certain knowledge to publicly declare that what is tainted with the smell of the fake is still genuine. Good Luck!’ As for this writer, I have come to believe that Moses Wilhelm Shapira presented an authentic ancient Torah scroll to the world, and the world rejected his treasure and wrongly labeled him a forger. Should the evidence presented in this book vindicate Shapira in your mind, I invite you to join me in helping to restore honor and blessing to his name and his memory. May they henceforth always be for a blessing.”
I could not have imagined that two weeks after the publication of my book, Idan Dershowitz’s work (The Valediction of Moses: A Proto-biblical Book) would be released, resulting in much scholarly debate and a reappearance of the Shapira story to readers of The New York Times!
Today, as I reflect on the story that forever altered the direction of my life, I am thankful to my readers, my fellow researchers (past and present), and for the opportunity to be part of the ongoing search for The Moses Scroll!
To show my appreciation, The Moses Scroll (paperback edition) is on sale for $15 until March 8th. You can get your copy today if you don’t yet own it. The book is also available in hardcover, Kindle, and audio.
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