Dr. Jason Kalman of Hebrew Union College shares the remarkable story of McGill University’s attempts to purchase scrolls from Cave 4 at Qumran in the early 1950s. Although the process was complicated, drawn out, full of international intrigue, and ultimately never brought any scrolls to Montreal, McGill Professor R.B.Y. Scott’s efforts prompted others to act and resulted in the preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, whose study has revolutionized our understanding of ancient Judaism.

Dr. Kalman is the co-author with Jaqueline Du Toit of Canada's Big Biblical Bargain: How McGill University Bought the Dead Sea Scrolls (MQUP, 2010) and the author of Hebrew Union College and the Dead Sea Scrolls (HUC-JIR, 2012). 

Written and performed by Dr. Jason Kalman (Hebrew Union College); featuring Christian Cloke; produced by Christian Cloke and Sarah Lima; featuring Vivaldi's Gloria; recording and editing by R. Aaron Allen Productions.