Shemaryahu Talmon
Encyclopedia
Shemaryahu Talmon (born Shemaryahu Zelmanowicz, 1920, Skierniewice, Poland
) was J. L. Magnes Professor of Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
. He died the morning of December 15, 2010.
He was educated at the Jüdisches Reform-Real Gymnasium in Breslau, Germany
. He was interned for three months in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939, but then managed to emigrate to Palestine
.
He obtained a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1956. His thesis was on the text and versions of the Tanach, especially "double meanings" in Biblical texts. He has subsequently extended and refined his thesis, and has contributed to many areas of biblical study. He worked with Moshe Goshen-Gottstein
and Chaim Rabin on the Hebrew University Bible Project
, and since their deaths has served as its editor in chief. He has also done work in the area of sociology. His work has helped to advance the understanding of the biblical text, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls
. He combined his interest in the scrolls and sociology to study the nature and history of the "community of the renewed covenant."
In interfaith activities he has been a leader in international Jewish-Christian dialogue, working with the World Council of Churches
and the Vatican
. In the area of Biblical education, he was director for educational institutions in the Immigration Camps in Cyprus (1947–48). He has taught at the major Israeli universities and been a visiting professor at many institutions throughout the world. He was the rector of the University of Haifa
and of the Institute of Judaic Studies at the College of Jewish Studies at Heidelberg, dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University.
His publications include "Qumran and the History of the Biblical Text" (1975), "King, Cult, and Calendar" (1986), "Gesellschaft und Literatur in der Hebräischen Bibel" (1988), "The World of Qumran from Within" (1989) and hundreds of articles in scholarly journals.
In December 2008, Talmon donated a library of 10,000 volumes, mostly in Biblical studies, to the Shalom Hartman Institute
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) was J. L. Magnes Professor of Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. He died the morning of December 15, 2010.
He was educated at the Jüdisches Reform-Real Gymnasium in Breslau, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was interned for three months in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939, but then managed to emigrate to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
He obtained a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1956. His thesis was on the text and versions of the Tanach, especially "double meanings" in Biblical texts. He has subsequently extended and refined his thesis, and has contributed to many areas of biblical study. He worked with Moshe Goshen-Gottstein
Moshe Goshen-Gottstein
Moshe Goshen-Gottstein was a German-born professor of Semitic linguistics and biblical philology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and director of the lexicographical institute and Biblical research institute of Bar-Ilan University.-Biography:Moshe Goshen-Gottstein was born in Berlin...
and Chaim Rabin on the Hebrew University Bible Project
Hebrew University Bible Project
The Hebrew University Bible Project is a project to create the first edition of the Hebrew Bible that reproduces the text of the Aleppo Codex and includes a thorough critical apparatus....
, and since their deaths has served as its editor in chief. He has also done work in the area of sociology. His work has helped to advance the understanding of the biblical text, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
. He combined his interest in the scrolls and sociology to study the nature and history of the "community of the renewed covenant."
In interfaith activities he has been a leader in international Jewish-Christian dialogue, working with the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. In the area of Biblical education, he was director for educational institutions in the Immigration Camps in Cyprus (1947–48). He has taught at the major Israeli universities and been a visiting professor at many institutions throughout the world. He was the rector of the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
and of the Institute of Judaic Studies at the College of Jewish Studies at Heidelberg, dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University.
His publications include "Qumran and the History of the Biblical Text" (1975), "King, Cult, and Calendar" (1986), "Gesellschaft und Literatur in der Hebräischen Bibel" (1988), "The World of Qumran from Within" (1989) and hundreds of articles in scholarly journals.
In December 2008, Talmon donated a library of 10,000 volumes, mostly in Biblical studies, to the Shalom Hartman Institute
Shalom Hartman Institute
Shalom Hartman Institute is a Jewish research and education institute based in Jerusalem, Israel, that offers pluralistic Jewish thought and education to scholars, rabbis, educators, and Jewish community leaders in Israel and North America...
.
Further reading
- Hoter, Elaine. "Talmon (Zalmonovitch), Shemaryahu." Encyclopaedia JudaicaEncyclopaedia JudaicaThe Encyclopaedia Judaica is a 26-volume English-language encyclopedia of the Jewish people and their faith, Judaism. It covers diverse areas of the Jewish world and civilization, including Jewish history of all eras, culture, holidays, language, scripture, and religious teachings...
2nd ed vol 19. - Sha'arei Talmon: Essays presented to Shemaryahu Talmon ed. Michael Fishbane and Emanuel TovEmanuel TovEmanuel Tov is Professor in the Department of Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, corresponding to Fellow of the British Academy , since 2006.-Biography:...
, Eisenbrauns, 1992, ISBN 0-931464-61-7. - Video of dedication of Talmon collection to Shalom Hartman Institute
See also
- List of Israel Prize recipients