On February 24th, 2025, ISI Florence hosted Professor Marcello Fidanzio’s lecture on the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls from 1947 onwards.

Prof. Stefano U. Baldassarri (Director, ISI Florence)

Prof. Marcello Fidanzio (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano – Università della Svizzera Italiana)

Rav Prof. Joseph Levi (Director of Shemah – Scuola di Cultura e Studi Ebraici and former Rabbi of Florence)

Prof. Giovanni Ibba (from ISSRT/Facoltà Teologica dell’Italia Centrale)

After a brief welcome speech by Prof. Stefano U. Baldassarri (Director, ISI Florence), Prof. Fidanzio (Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano – Università della Svizzera Italiana) gave an engaging, one-hour talk, holding the audience’s attention with stories about the discovery of the scrolls, their importance and relevance within Judaism, and the consequences of this incredible find.

During his lecture, Prof. Fidanzio showed a seven-meter-long facsimile of the so-called Great Isaiah Scroll. Dating from ca. 125 BCE, this scroll is the largest and best-preserved of the biblical documents found in Qumran soon after the end of World War II.  

Rav Prof. Joseph Levi (Director of Shemah – Scuola di Cultura e Studi Ebraici and former Rabbi of Florence) warmly introduced the talk, while Prof. Giovanni Ibba (from ISSRT/Facoltà Teologica dell’Italia Centrale) offered his thoughtful insights at the end.

The grand hall of Palazzo Rucellai welcomed numerous attendees, who also had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries during the following reception.

The International Studies Institute of Florence is both glad and proud to continue its productive collaboration with Shemah, which started right after this Jewish studies center was founded (also thanks to some ISI Florence members) in the fall of 2017.