At the Israel Museum a once in a lifetime experience has opened up. As part of its 60th anniversary commemorations, the Israel Museum has put on display the original Isaiah Scroll, which is undoubtedly the most significant of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Believed to be dated to 125 BCE, the Isaiah scroll is the earliest known biblical manuscript by roughly a thousand years. Discovered in 1947 and in Israel’s hands since the mid 1950s, the Isaiah Scroll had been displayed at the Shrine of the Book but in 1968 it was removed and placed in the museum vaults because curators believed it was being damaged by the light and humidity after surviving in the dry Dead Sea caves for over two thousand years. But now, it is being shown to the public in a special glass housing where its entire seven meter length is laid out in a temperature and humidity controlled room. It’s part of a new exhibit called “A Voice From the Desert” The Great Isaiah Scroll. Reporter Arieh O’Sullivan was at the unveiling of the exhibit and spoke with curator Haggit Maoz. (photo: Eli Poz) 

<p>At the Israel Museum a once in a lifetime experience has opened up. As part of its 60th anniversary commemorations, the Israel Museum has put on display the original Isaiah Scroll, which is undoubtedly the most significant of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Believed to be dated to 125 BCE, the Isaiah scroll is the earliest known biblical manuscript by roughly a thousand years. Discovered in 1947 and in Israel&rsquo;s hands since the mid 1950s, the Isaiah Scroll had been displayed at the Shrine of the Book but in 1968 it was removed and placed in the museum vaults because curators believed it was being damaged by the light and humidity after surviving in the dry Dead Sea caves for over two thousand years. But now, it is being shown to the public in a special glass housing where its entire seven meter length is laid out in a temperature and humidity controlled room. It&rsquo;s part of a new exhibit called &ldquo;A Voice From the Desert&rdquo; The Great Isaiah Scroll. Reporter Arieh O&rsquo;Sullivan was at the unveiling of the exhibit and spoke with curator Haggit Maoz. (photo: Eli Poz)&nbsp;</p>