Anton Kiraz's Archive on the Dead Sea Scrolls 1931956383, 9781931956383

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Anton Kiraz’s Dead Sea Scroll Archive

Anton Kiraz’s Dead Sea Scroll Archive

GEORGE A. KIRAZ, ED.

GORGIAS PRESS 2005

First Gorgias Press Edition, 2005. Copyright © 2005 by Gorgias Press LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States of America by Gorgias Press LLC, New Jersey.

ISBN 1-931956-38-3

GORGIAS PRESS

46 Orris Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA www.gorgiaspress.com

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

So it seems, Dr., I have to make a third book. You made one, Samuel made one; it is my turn to make one, but with who’s help. I think with the Lord’s help. Anton Kiraz to John C. Trever Letter dated April 5, 1967 Thanks again for all your fine help in unraveling the story of the scrolls. John C. Trever to Anton Kiraz Letter dated February 28, 1963

Contents Foreword by the Kiraz Family................................................................... vii Second Foreword by Sebastian P. Brock .................................................. ix Preface ............................................................................................................ xi Anton Kiraz: A Biography ........................................................................ xiii Chronology of Events...............................................................................xvii Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)............................................ 1 Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)......................................................... 36 Research Behind The Untold Story of Qumran (1960-1965)...................... 36 Samuel’s Reaction to The Untold Story (1966)........................................... 36 Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967)............... 36 Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)...................................................................... 36 Revising The Untold Story of Qumran (1975) ....................................... 36 At Gilda’s Baptism (1983) .......................................................................... 36 The Last Letter To Bethlehem (1985) ...................................................... 36 In America (1985-1993) .............................................................................. 36

v

Foreword by the Kiraz Family We do not recall when we first heard of Qumran; the word was so common to all of us since childhood. Our father always told anecdotes about his past to visitors: how his family left Turkey on foot following the aftermath of World War I—what the Syriac-speaking people call sayfo, ‘sword,’ referring to the calamities that befell the Christians of Ottoman Turkey; how he discovered a historical cave (the Talpioth site1) in the garden of his newlybuilt house near Jerusalem; his help rendered to so many Syriac refugees in British-mandate Palestine through his contacts with government officials; his meeting with Yigael Yadin after the 1967 war in an attempt to regain possession of his house in Talpioth which was lost to Israel during the 1948 war; his social contacts with King Abdullah I of Transjordan during the early days of that country. But the most fascinating of all anecdotes were those relating to his involvement in the first discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We must have heard them dozens of times. When in 1993 our father “gave you [the duration of] his lifetime— ‫ﺃﻋﻁﺎﻜﻡ ﻋﻤﺭﻩ‬,” as people of the Middle East say, he left behind him a large number of files. He was a perfectionist when it came to paperwork. “A government ministry,” we always teased, “does not have as many files.” Among files labeled Telephone, Bank, Gas, etc., there was a thick file originally labeled Yeshua Samuel, and later relabeled Dr. John C. Trever. Below it there was a much thinner file labeled Dr. Ovid R. Sellers. Both contained invaluable letters and documents related to the first discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Going through the papers, we realized the importance of the information they contained concerning the complex issues related to the discovery, especially when all the people involved are now no longer with us. We had the documents cataloged by George, and they were placed in 1 This site was excavated by E. L. Sukenik. See Sukenik’s “The Earliest Records of Christianity,” The American Journal of Archeology, vol. LI, No. 4, 1947; also published as a special extract with a foreword by J. F. Daniel (1947). See also Carl H. Kraeling, “Christian Burial Urns?,” Biblical Archaeologist, vol. ix, no. 1; Life [magazine], December 22, 1947.

vii

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

protective covers as some were deteriorating. Then we commissioned Ina Berg to enter the material on the computer for preservation. Following the passing away of our father, George published the following message on the ANE (Ancient Near East) electronic mailing list: On Dec 21, 1993 Anton D. Kiraz, who was involved in the events of the first Qumran discoveries, passed away in West Covina, Los Angeles [sic]. His account was told by J. C. Trever, The Untold Story of Qumran (London, 1965).1

A number of scholars (some before the death of our father) approached George with inquiries regarding the discovery of the scrolls. Since the documents contain much private material intertwined with matters relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls—and separating them seemed impossible at the time—we were unable to share them. As we feel that we have a moral obligation to make the documents available to scholarship (but not private and family matters), we thought that the best course of action would be to prepare an edition of the documents. The result of the endeavor is this volume. The Kiraz Family

On 18 April 1995, George sent a similar announcement following the death of the Thrice Blessed Athanasius Yeshue Samuel which read: “On Sunday, 16 April 1995, Athanasius Yeshu Samuel, Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of the United States and Canada, former Archbishop of Jerusalem, passed away in New Jersey. Archbishop Samuel is known for the role he played in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.” 1

Second Foreword by Sebastian P. Brock The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls was undoubtedly one of the most sensational archaeological finds of the twentieth century, but the course of events in the period immediately subsequent to the initial find by Ta‛amira Beduin remains unclear in several respects. A key figure at this time was Anton Kiraz: not only did he serve as a main source of information for J. C. Trever, author of The Untold Story of Qumran (1966), but it was also he who got in touch with E. L. Sukenik in January 1948, and showed him the scrolls with the Manual of Discipline and the Book of Isaiah. Anton Kiraz was the owner of a taxi business in Bethlehem, and at the time a close friend of the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem, Mar Athanasius Samuel and a partner with him in the acquisition of these scrolls. (Although Mar Athanasius’s later account, in his Treasure of Qumran: My Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1968), reflects the subsequent cooling of their relationship, a reconciliation was finally brought about before Anton died). At his death in 1993 Anton Kiraz left behind a collection of letters and affidavits which had been written during the course of the years immediately following the discovery of the Scrolls. These important documents are now for the first time published and introduced here by Anton’s son, the Syriac scholar and publisher George Kiraz. The originals, which George Kiraz has kindly allowed me to read, are printed here in full, apart from some passages which are of no relevance to the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls; these have been omitted simply because they concern persons from the Syrian Orthodox community who are still alive. The publication of these documents will be of the greatest interest to all who have an interest in the circumstances surrounding what Sukenik, already in December 1947, predicted would be “one of the greatest finds ever made in Palestine, a find we never so much as hoped for.” Sebastian P. Brock Oriental Institute, Oxford University

ix

Preface The following documents are organized in chronological order, each identified with the siglum K-n (where n is a sequential number). Personal matters not relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls, and unnecessary content are omitted and are indicated by […]. When such matters are witness to the relationship of the two correspondents, however, it is sometimes given indented in a smaller type and can be easily skipped. Editorial comments, minor corrections made for the sake of clarity, and elucidation are placed between square brackets, [ ]. Material not suitable for publication in its original form has been summarized in italic and placed in parenthesis, ( ). The orthography of the originals is preserved, despite all the misspellings and grammatical errors, as these are sometimes the reason behind misunderstandings between the correspondents. Publication names usually appear in capitals in the original documents; these have been italicized whenever possible. Currency amounts of earlier years are converted to relay the purchasing power of the same amount in 2002. The original amounts appear in the body of the documents, while the corresponding values for 2002 appear in footnotes. The calculations are based on John J. McCusker, “Comparing the Purchasing Power of Money in the United States (or Colonies) from 1665 to 2002,” Economic History Services, 2003 (URL: http://www.eh.net/hmit/ppowerusd, last checked on October 1, 2003). Palestinian pounds during the mid-1940s are computed as $1.00 for 4.04 LP on the basis of a note in K-28. Kiraz used to spend a few days writing his letters. The date on the letter usually indicates the day he started writing or redrafting a letter. This is best indicated with his dramatic letter of June 4, 1967 (K-121), addressed to John C. Trever. In the middle of the letter, Kiraz draws a line then writes, “Until here I was writing under Jordanian Crown – June 6, 1967. Now I am writing under Israeli occupation in all Palestine.” One note with regard to the relationship between Anton Kiraz and the Thrice Blessed Athanasius Yeshue Samuel is necessary. It is regrettable that the documents published here belong to the period that immediately followed the breakup of their close friendship in 1948, and preceded their reconciliation in 1985. I am happy to report that they made peace before xi

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

departing from this life. In 1985, Kiraz immigrated to New Jersey. The day after his arrival, Samuel took Kiraz out for lunch—and they made peace then and there. They met last in 1989 or 1990 in Kiraz’s residence in California, shortly after Kiraz took ill. Samuel paid Kiraz a visit accompanied with Very Rev. Joseph Tarzi of St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Parish and Samuel’s Archdeacon, Murad Saliba Barsoum. I am indebted to Dr. Sebastian P. Brock who compared this edition with the original documents. His testimony affirms that no necessary material that is directly concerned with the Dead Sea Scrolls has been omitted. The major bulk of this book is correspondence between Anton Kiraz and John C. Trever. I am grateful to Dr. Trever for giving permission to include his letters in this edition. Finally, acknowledgement is due to Very Rev. Chorepiscopus John Peter Meno, General Secretary of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of North America under Archbishop Samuel, who read very carefully the final version of this work. George Anton Kiraz Sunday of the Departed, March 6, 2005

Anton Kiraz: A Biography The Kirazes are Syriac Christians who originally hail from the village of Ivos in Anatolia. A family tree takes them back to the late 1700s or early 1800s. The earliest name known is that of Barsoum Kiraz, born around the early or mid-1800s. Barsoum’s father’s name is unknown, but it is known that he had at least one brother, whose name is also unknown but whose descendants have been identified. Barsoum had three sons, and may have had some daughters. His sons are Daoud (David), Gewargis (George), and Touma (Thomas). Daoud is Anton Kiraz’s paternal grandfather and lent his name to the family for some time. (Anton Kiraz was known during the early years of the Dead Sea scolls discovery as Anton Daoud/David.) Sometime in the mid-1800s, the family moved to the town of Kharput (near Elezig in Turkey). There, Daoud had three sons: Giragos, Barsoum, and Artin (Anton’s father). By the 1910s, the family had moved again to Adana. Barsoum, the middle boy, immigrated to the United States seeking a better future. In his absence, his family negotiated his engagement to an Armenian girl named Lusazine Kachador Kamilian. Lusazine’s family had also been immigrants from Kharput. As Barsoum refused to return to collect his bride (his condition was that she also immigrate to the United States, which her parents refused), Lusazine was then promised to the youngest boy, Artin. In Adana, Artin and Lusazine had a boy whom they named Anton. Anton’s exact date of his birth is unknown; later, physicians assigned it to January 1, 1917. During and after World War I, the Christians of the Ottoman Empire faced much persecution and suffered massacres, described by some as a geneocide. The fate of the Kiraz family was similar to that of many other Syriac Christians. At least one family member, a scribe of liturgical manuscripts, is known to have perished. It is said that he was murdered either by Turks or Kurds while writing a Phanqitho, the West Syriac liturgical cycle. As a result, the family left Adana on foot and donkeys and headed towards Lebanon. The Daoud branch of the family (apart from Barsoum, who remained in the United States) settled there for a number of years in makeshift homes in a state of great poverty. Unable to sustain themselves in Lebanon, the Daoud branch of the family moved south on foot to Palestine. They initially settled in Haifa, xiii

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

where Artin worked as a baker. Later, the family moved to Jerusalem for a better opportunity. Anton was sent to the Frère School. The school was tuition-free, but it was the responsibility of the parents to provide books. Unable to afford books, Anton had to leave school after completing the third grade and was sent to an auto mechanic to learn that trade. Later, Anton would teach himself English and French, in addition to being able to speak Turkish (his father’s language) and Armenian (his mother’s language). Anton worked with the mechanic for a few years, as an upaid intern, until he mastered the trade and started earning wages. Little by little, Anton saved money and purchased an old broken car which he repaired and resold for some profit. After many such successful projects, Anton managed to amass a good base of capital. By the early 1940s, he owned two taxi service offices in Jerusalem, and owned five large American cars. In 1945, he built a house in the area of Telepiot between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where he discovered a tomb containing ossuaries that made headlines in the media, not unlike the recent ‘discovery’ of the James ossuary. It was during this period that Anton became a close friend of Yeshue Samuel, a monk at St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox monastery who would later became archbishop and purchase the Dead Sea Scrolls from the beduins. Those who knew them testify to their close friendship, but the scrolls came between them and broke that friendship. The story of their relationship is embedded in the following documents. Due to the 1948 war, Anton lost everything he had: his home, which was taken by the new state of Israel, his fleet of taxis, and fourteen trucks he managed to purchase from the departing British mandate forces. Above all, he lost the friendship he had with bishop Samuel. Now, Anton became a refugee and settled in Bethlehem. There, he married Nijmeh Abdulahad Khamis but was never to recover from the effects of the war. He unsuccessfully attempted to establish a number of businesses. Nijmeh worked as a seamstress to support the family. Anton and Nijmeh had four children: Guita (born 1953), Alaria (born 1961), Theodora (born 1962) and George (born 1965). In 1981 Guita immigrated to the United States where she got married. Alaria left for the United States earlier in 1980 for higher education where she received a degree in pharmacy. Theodora won a scholarship in 1981 to study in Germany where she received a medical degree from the University of Heidelberg. In 1983, Nijmeh and George immigrated to the United States and they were followed by Anton (who stayed behind in case the immigration did not work out) in 1985.

ANTON KIRAZ: A BIOGRAPHY

xv

Anton Kiraz is survived by his wife Nijmeh (81), four children (Guita, Alaria, Theodora, and George), and ten grandchildren: Gilda, Theodora (Guita’s), Alida, Samy, Eddy (Alaria’s), Fadi, Samer, Lina (Theodora’s), Tabetha Gabriella, and Sebastian Kenoro (George’s).

Chronology of Events 1945 Anton Kiraz builds a house in the Talpioth suburb of Jerusalem where he discovers a first-century tomb. He informs the Department of Antiquities of the Government of Palestine. Early Sept

The Department of Antiquities proposes that the Museum of Jewish Antiquities of the Hebrew University excavate the tomb.

Sept 10-13

E. L. Sukenik carries out the excavation, assisted by N. Avigad of the Museum Staff.

Oct

Discovery of the tomb is announced and reported by the press under sensational headlines such as “an eyewitness account of the death of Christ.”

?

Tension arises between Fr. Yeshue Samuel, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, and his community over the handling of the community’s school property in Jerusalem. Kiraz, a close friend of Samuel, acts as intermediary and keeps harmony. [K-28]

1946 May 25

Rev. Samuel presents Kiraz with a portrait of himself and autographs it in Syriac (Translation: “gift of love and remembrance to our beloved spiritual friend, [community] leader Mr. Anton Kiraz. Jerusalem, 25/5/1946. Monk Yeshue.”)

Dec 22

Samuel consecrated Metropolitan of Jerusalem by Patriarch Afram I Barsoum. Kiraz is the only member of Samuel’s congregation in Jerusalem who attends the consecration ceremony in Homs, Syria. [K-28]

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

Late 1946 / Early 1947 D

(= Discovery Date) Muḥammad Edh-Dhib and his cousin Jum‛a Muḥammad discover three scrolls (the Isaiah Scroll, 1QIsa, the Habakkuk Commentary, 1QpHab, the Manual of Discipline, 1QS, and the Genesis Apochryphon 1QLamech) in Cave I near Khirbet Qumran. Edh-Dhib and Jum‛a keep the scrolls, along with two empty jars they took from Cave I, for three days in the wilderness. [See K-43 for details.]

D+3 days

Jum‛a takes the scrolls and jars to the Ta‛amreh camp, and keeps the scrolls hanging in his tent for a month. [K43]

1947 Jan 22

Kiraz gives a dinner party in honor of Samuel on the occasion of his consecration as Metropolitan at the Villa Roze Marie in the German Colony in Jerusalem. [K-28]

ca. D+1 month

Jum‛a takes the scrolls to Ibrahim Ijḥa, an oriental carpenter who also deals in antiquities, in Bethlehem, and leaves them for about a month (according to Jum‛a), or 20 days (according to Ijḥa). [K-28] Ijḥa shows the scrolls to Feiḍi Ṣalaḥi who suspects that the scrolls are stolen from a Jewish synagogue. Ijḥa decides not to purchase the scrolls. [K-28]

ca. D+2 months Jum‛a enquires about the scrolls from Ijḥa who tells him that no one will buy them. Jum‛a leaves the jars with Ijḥa but takes the scrolls. Jum‛a meets George Isha‛ya, a Syrian Orthodox peddler who sold cloaks to the Ta‛amreh, in the market and shows him the scrolls. Isha‛ya asks to keep the scrolls to find a buyer, but Jum‛ah will not trust him. While discussing the matter, they met Sheikh ‛Ali Subḥ, a relative of Jum‛ah who lives in Bethlehem. Ṣubḥ takes them to Khalil Iskander (Kando). Khalil Musa, also a relative of Jum‛ah, sees the men in Kando’s shop and joins them. Kando promises Jum‛ah 2/3 of the profit if the scrolls are sold. [K-28, K-51, K-61]

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ca. D+3months

xix

Jum‛ah is advised to show the Scrolls to the Metropolitan at St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Jerusalem. Jum‛ah takes three scrolls and goes accompanied by Khalil Musa and George Isha‛ya. According to Jum‛a, they are met at the gate of the Monastery by Fr. Boulos Jilif who turns them away. According to Boulos, he was in his room and Isha‛ya came and showed him the scrolls, then Jilif told Samuel what had happened. [K-28, K-61] Jum‛ah takes the scrolls back to Kando.

May-June

Jum‛a meets Isha‛ya and Khalil Musa in Bethlehem carrying two new scrolls, which they had kept for a period with Dahoud Musallam, a dealer of Dead Sea stones. Jum‛a suggested that they show them to Feiḍi Salaḥi who purchased them for seven Palestinian pounds.1 Samuel states later in his book Treasure of Qumran that he only possesses 60 LP2 (which Kiraz’s uses later to refute Samuel’s account). [K-118]

July

Kando sells the Scrolls to Metropolitan Samuel for 24 Palestinian pounds ($97.20).3 Jum‛a receives 16 pounds as agreed.

?

Jum‛a and Khalil Musa take George Isha‛ya to the Cave. Isha‛ya builds some stone marks to help him find it again. [K-28]

?

Mr. Sa‛d of the Palestine Museum, Jerusalem, comes to Bethlehem and asks Ibrahim Shawrieh, a Ta‛amreh Bedouin with whom he had some antiquity dealings, about the scrolls. Shawrieh asks Aḥmad ‛Abd El-Qadir, a relative of Edh-Dhib, to ask Jum‛a and Edh-Dhib to meet Sa‛d. Jum‛ah, Aḥmad, and Edh-Dhib meet Sa‛d, who takes them to Mr. Harding (in Amman?).

= $228 in 2002. = $1,950 in 2002. 3 =$780 in 2002. 1 2

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

Aug

Samuel calls Kiraz and informs him about some financial difficulties he is having. [K-28]

Sept 4

Kiraz visits Samuel again to finalize a trip they planned to take to Lebanon and Syria for fellowship and to show the scrolls to Patriarch Afram I Barsoum. [K-28]

Sept 5

Samuel and Kiraz set off to Lebanon and Syria in Kiraz’s car. [K-28]

Sept 6-8

Samuel and Kiraz spend three days in Mayroubeh, Lebanon. [K-28]

Late Sept

Kiraz returns to Jerusalem; Samuel stays at the Patriarchate in Homs. [K-28]

Early Oct

Samuel returns to Jerusalem. [K-28]

ca. Oct 3

Samuel calls Kiraz and asks him to come immediately. Samuel’s financial difficulties had just escalated. “You know these scrolls I bought,” he says, “I paid 24 LP [=$97.201] for them. A Jew offered me 100 LP2 for them, but I must have money. What can you give me for them?” Kiraz pays Samuel 25 LP3 and says, “let’s be partners in whatever the scrolls may bring.” [K-28]

Ca. Oct 4

Samuel calls Kiraz again for assistance. Kiraz gives Samuel 50 LP and promises to take care of Samuel’s financial problem. [K-28]

Oct 10

Kiraz signs an I.O.U. (promissory note) for Samuel in the amount of 540 PL.4 Samuel intends to use it to obtain a loan of 500 LP from the Greek monastery. [K33, K-34]

Oct-Dec

The American Journal of Archaeology (vol. li, no. 4) publishes an extensive report by E. L. Sukenik on the discovery of the tomb in Kiraz’s property. A Special Abstract is produced in 1948 with a Foreword by J. F. Daniel, the Journal’s Editor-in-Chief.

= $780 in 2002. = $3255 in 2002. 3 = $815 in 2002. 4 = $17,600 in 2002. 1 2

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS Nov 29

xxi

The United Nations General Assembly votes on the partition of Palestine into two states: one Arab and one Jewish. Sukenik and Ohan, an Armenian dealer in Jerusalem, visit Feiḍi Salaḥi. They took with them scrolls and two jars. [K-136, K-137]

Dec 22

Life magazine publishes an account of the discovery of the tombs in Kiraz’s property. Kiraz and his father Artin (holding a candle) appear in the pictures.

1948 Jan

Kiraz recalls his experience with Sukenik and suggests to Samuel that they contact Sukenik for advice on the scrolls. Kiraz writes to Sukenik asking if he is interested in examining “some books.” [K-28]

Feb 4

Sukenik and Kiraz meet at the Y.M.C.A. in the office of Malak Tannourdji, the librarian and a member of the Syrian Orthodox community. Sukenik asks Kiraz if he can take the scrolls for examination. Kiraz gives him three of the four scrolls (the Isaiah scroll, the Habakkuk scroll and one part of the Manual of Discipline). The other two scrolls were kept in the drawer of Tannourdji’s desk.

Feb 6

Sukenik and Kiraz meet again at the Y.M.C.A; Sukenik returns the three scrolls and makes an offer of 100 LP.1 Kiraz showed no interest and tells Sukenik that he has a partner, the Metropolitan.

Feb 6-17

Kiraz keeps the scrolls in his home. [K-28.]

ca. Feb. 10

Sukenik and Kiraz meet for the third time at the Y.M.C.A. Sukenik raises his offer to 500 LP.2 Kiraz tells Sukenik that he needs to consult with his partner. Sukenik then offers Kiraz another 500 LP (just for Kiraz) if he gets Samuel to agree to the sale. Tannourdji advises Kiraz to get another appraisal.

1 2

=$3,300 in 2002. =$16,300 in 2002.

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

?

Kiraz suggests that Sukenik meet him at the Yugoslav Consulate, as the gatekeeper was a friend of Kiraz and a member of the Syrian Orthodox Church. The meeting does not take place. [K-46]

Feb 17

Samuel asks Kiraz to bring the scrolls as he wants to show them to scholars at ASOR.

Feb 19

Fr. Butros Sowmy and his brother Ibrahim take the scrolls to ASOR and show them to Trever.

Feb 21

Samuel and Fr. Sowmy bring the scrolls to Trever at ASOR. [K-21]

Feb 23

Kiraz meets with Samuel at St. Mark’s; Samuel reports to Kiraz that Trever took photographs of the scrolls. [K17.]

Feb 24

Trever and Brownlee pay a visit to St. Mark’s. [K-21]

Late Feb

Kiraz writes to Sukenik informing him that they decided to wait until after the political troubles to sell the scrolls. [Source: Letter from Neil Silberman to G. Kiraz, Feb 11, 1994.]

March 2

Trever prepares a statement of progress for Samuel. [K21]

March

Sukenik contacts Kiraz through Tannourdji and asks to examine the scrolls again. Kiraz discusses the matter with Samuel who turns down the idea. Kiraz tries to get copies of Trever’s photographs for Sukenik, but Samuel does not agree. [K-28]

?

Kiraz manages to solve Samuel’s financial difficulty. [K28]

Late March

Samuel sends the scrolls to Beirut with Fr. Sowmy without Kiraz’s knowledge. The scrolls are deposited in a bank vault.

April

Kiraz makes many trips between Jerusalem, Transjordan and Beirut to take friends out of troubled Palestine. [K28]

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxiii

May 14

Kiraz asks Samuel to keep the scrolls in the Monastery, and leaves for Beirut to take Rev. Malak out of troubled Palestine. He deposits a few hundred LP with Samuel as trustee. Later that night, the British withdraw from Palestine and war erupts. Kiraz can not return to Jerusalem for three months because of the fighting. [K17]

May 16

Fr. Butros Sawmy is killed by a shell which falls in St. Mark’s Monastery. [K-36]

Later May

Kiraz’s parents, fearing the fighting, leave the Talpioth house and take refuge at St. Mark’s Monastery.

May

According to a later testimony by Lousazine, Kiraz’s mother, Samuel tells her at St. Mark’s that he had purchased the scrolls with her son “some months ago”. [See K-9] During the First Truce, Kiraz’s parents leave St. Mark’s and go to stay with a friend, George Simon, in Bethlehem.

ca. Sept

During the Second Truce, Kiraz returns to Palestine to find his Talpioth home taken by Israel. He becomes a refugee and goes to Bethlehem to stay with George Simon. [K-28, K-32]

Sept

While in Bethlehem, Kiraz gets to know Khalil Eskandar Shahin (Kando). [K-32]

Oct 1

E. L. Sukenik writes to Kiraz requesting photographs of the scrolls taken at ASOR, and confirmation that Sukenik has the same rights of publication of the scrolls “as the Americans.” [K-1]

Oct

Kiraz and his parents, now homeless, take refuge at the Syrian Orthodox Monastery near Jericho. They stay there for two months. [K-28]

?

Isha‛ya visits Qumran on a number of occasions with different people. He may have found fragments which ended up with Samuel. [K-65]

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ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

Nov 9

Kiraz goes to Jerusalem from Jericho to see the Metropolitan and to discuss the matter of the scrolls again. He is told that the Metropolitan left that day for America. [K-28]

Dec

Kiraz plans to visit the caves at Qumran with George Ishaya, but their plans do not materialize. [K-32]

?

Kiraz meets Dr. Sellers of ASOR, and states his rights in the scrolls. [K-18, K-114]

1949 Early 1949

Kiraz falls ill as a result of all the strain of the previous year.

Jan 29

Samuel arrives in the U.S. with the scrolls.

May 1

Trever writes to Sellers and asks him to “assure Kiraz that he can rely on me [Trever] to see to it that he is justly treated…” [K-2]

May 25

Sellers advises Kiraz to make a full statement in legal form. [K-2]

June 8

Kiraz writes to Samuel requesting the payment of 850 Palestinian pounds for Kiraz’s services in resolving Samuel’s financial problems. [K-3]

June 16

Kiraz is forced to enter a sanitarium in Beirut for complete rest at a great cost that reduces his financial status to virtual poverty. [K-28]

Early July

Sellers returns to the U.S. [K-6]

July 29

Samuel visits Trever in Des Plaines, Illinois. [K-8]

?

Samuel sends a verbal message with Rev. Malak to Kiraz. If Kiraz withdraws claims to the scrolls and writes a waiver, Samuel will send him two new cars. Kiraz turns down the offer. [K-9, K-28]

Aug 4

Trever initiates communication with Lousazine Kiraz, Anton Kiraz’s mother. [See K-8.]

Aug 8 or 17

Kiraz leaves the sanitarium. [K11, K-28]

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxv

Aug 18

Kiraz’s advocate E. George Elia writes to Samuel requesting assurance of Kriaz’s rights in the scrolls. [See K-7.]

Sept-Oct

Trever and Sellers meet in Chicago to discuss the complex issues of the scrolls. [K-10]

Oct

Exhibit of the scrolls in the Library of Congress takes place. [See K-12]

Oct 30

Kiraz reports that in post-1948 Palestine, members of the Syriac-speaking community may not be granted citizenship under the new government, and asks Sellers if he can help him obtain a permit to go to the U.S. [See K13.]

Oct 30

Kiraz protests the publication of an article by Trever in Biblical Archaeologist (1949, no. 2), in which Trever gives Samuel’s account of the discovery. [See K-14]

1950-51 Samuel sends a copy of the I.O.U. which Kiraz signed to his successor in Jerusalem, Metropolitan Jilif, and requests that Jilif collects the money from Kiraz. Kiraz informs Jilif of the background of the I.O.U. and refuses to pay. [K-98] 1954 July 1

Samuel sells the scrolls for $250,000.1 The scrolls appear at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

1957 Sept 21

After more than five and a half years since his last letter to Kiraz, Trever initiates correspondence with Kiraz as he plans a trip to the Holy Land. [See K-24.]

Nov 27

Samuel attends the consecration of Patriarch Jacob III in Homs, Syria. Kando attends as well and asks Samuel for financial compensation. Samuel refuses to pay. [K-56]

1

= $1,600,895 in 2002.

xxvi

ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

1958 April

Trever is in the Holy Land. [K-28]

April 26

Trever begins interviewing Kiraz. [K-28]

May 12

Kiraz, based on interviews with Trever, writes his first affidavit entitled “My Experience Relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls” at the American Consulate in Jerusalem. [See K-28.]

June

Trever returns to the U.S. [K-29]

June

Trever shares Kiraz’s affidavit with Rev. Malak in New York.

?

Trever deposits a copy of Kiraz’s affidavit, in an envelope labeled “Affidavit of Anton D. Kiraz[,] Bethlehem, Jordan and photographic evidence relating to it,” at The National City Bank of Cleveland, Ohio.

1961 Oct 4

Kiraz suggests to Trever that he can interview the Ta‛amreh and record their stories on tape. [K-34]

Nov 8

Trever sends Kiraz 63 questions to be answered by the Ta‛amreh. [K-37, K-38]

Nov 25-26

Kiraz invites to his house Muḥammad Edh-Dhib and his cousin Jum‛ah Muḥammad, and records an interview with them, asking them Trever’s 63 questions. Judeh Docmac, headmaster of the Lutheran School in Bethlehem, translates their responses into English. Fu‚ād ‛Aṭwān, an appliance shop owner, operates the recording machine. Nijmeh Kiraz, Kiraz’s wife, is present during the recording.

1962 Jan 24

Kiraz reports to Trever that according to Ayoub Musallam, mayor of Bethlehem, the reports that Dahoud Musallam took scrolls of Jonah or Ruth to the U.S. are false. [K-47]

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxvii

Kiraz reports to Trever that according to Salameh, Jum‛a’s full name is Jum‛a Muḥammad Aḥmad. [K-46] March 13

Kiraz meets Jum‛ah in the street in Bethlehem by chance, and invites him for dinner. Kiraz asks Jum‛ah a number of questions to confirm his earlier statements. Jum‛ah states that his name is Jum‛ah Muḥammad Khalil, not Aḥmad. Kiraz asks for Jum‛a’s identity card, and Jum‛a promises to bring it on his next visit to Bethlehem. Jum‛ah tells Kiraz that “Aḥmad” belongs to his cousin’s name, Muḥammad Aḥmad Edh-Dhib. Apparently, Salameh added “Aḥmad” to Jum‛a’s name without Jum‛a’s awareness.

April-May

Kiraz investigates the names of Jum‛ah and Edh-Dhib by meeting Jum‛a, Khalil Musa, and Edh-Dhib, as well as some of their relatives, separately. Kiraz concludes that Edh-Dhib’s name is originally Muḥammad Aḥmad ElḤāmed; Edh-Dhib “the Wolf” is a nickname given to his father who “was so fierce like a wolf”. [K-51]

Early May

Kiraz visits Gregorius Boulos Behnam,1 who succeeded Samuel as Metropolitan of Jerusalem (Jilif had joined the Syrian Catholic Church), and learned that Samuel sent Behnam a draft of his autobiography for corrections. [K51]

May 16

Kiraz and Docmac visit Sheikh ‛Ali Ṣubḥ who tells them that Jum‛a brought 3 scrolls to him, and then went with Jum‛a to see George Isha‛ya.

May 17

Kiraz reports to Trever that Jum‛a identified himself as Jum‛a Aḥmad under the influence of Salameh, who told Jum‛a to add Aḥmad to be consistent with what had already been published. Jum‛a consented.

June 29

Trever arrives in Jerusalem leading a group of 16 tourists. [K-48]

1 Behnam visited the Kiraz family on many occasions, and it was he who named Kiraz’s third daughter, Theodora, after Empress Theodora of Byzantium who is held in high regard in the Syrian Orthodox Church. Behnam had written a play on Theodora’s role in supporting the Syrian Orthodox Church during the sixth century.

xxviii

ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE Trever interviews the Bedouins. [K-103] Trever meets Kando (?)

August 10

Trever leaves Jerusalem and returns to the U.S. [K-48]

Ca. Aug 15

Trever meets Samuel for three hours. Samuel complains about having to pay $87,0001 out of the sale of the scrolls in taxes. [K-54]

Oct 16

Kiraz reports to Trever that Kando was aggravated by Samuel because the latter did not send him money to pay those who were concerned with the discovery. [K-56] Kiraz reports that both Jum‛a and Edh-Dhib confirm that Khalil Musa was present during the first discovery of the scrolls (?). [K-56]

Dec 28

Trever presents a paper at the SBL meeting at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, and plays a portion of the taped interview. [K-60]2

1963 Jan 12

Kiraz meets Jum‛a in the market and invites him for tea, during which he asks him some questions that Trever sent earlier. [K-61]

April 18

Kiraz meets Khalil Musa and asks him some questions that Trever sent. [K-67]

1965 October

Trever’s The Untold Story of Qumran is released.

1966 Jan 5

Samuel writes to Trever protesting that Trever accepted the claims of Kiraz in The Untold Story of Qumran over his, especially regarding an alleged promissory note of 540 LP, signed by Kiraz to Samuel. [K-93]

Feb 5

Trever writes back to Samuel and affirms that he stands by what he has written in The Untold Story of Qumran regarding the relation between Kiraz and Samuel. [K-96]

1 2

= $583,000 in 2002. The exact date was kindly provided by Andrew Scrimgeour, the SBL archivist.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxix

March

The publishers of The Untold Story of Qumran do a second printing. [K-97]

May

Trever is in the Holy Land. [K-98, K-99]

May 22

Kiraz signs an affidavit titled “Document Regarding an Alleged Promissory Note Between Anton D. Kiraz and Metropolitan Athanasius Samuel? Dated October 10, 1947.” [K-98]

August

Trever is back in the U.S. [K-101] Trever labels Kiraz’s second affidavit “Avidavitd of Anton D. Kiraz re: Note of Oct 10, 1947” and deposits it at The National City Bank of Cleveland, Ohio.

August 5

Trever writes to Samuel and confirms that he now has new evidence regarding the promissory note (i.e., Kiraz’s second Affidavit). [K-101]

Oct 4

George B. Kedersha, Samuel’s attorney, writes to Trever requesting that he retract his statements regarding the promissory note. Failing to do so, legal action will be taken. [K-105]

Oct 7

Trever seeks legal advice regarding Samuel’s threat of legal action, and asks Kiraz if it would be possible to get advice from the Syrian Orthodox Church. Trever’s attorney writes to Samuel. [K-103, K-112]

Oct 14

Kiraz writes to Trever that he is “taking serious steps in this business.” He asks of Trever to be “courageous like a lion.” [K-106]

Oct 19

Kiraz meets Khalil Musa on the bus by chance, and he gets answers from him for Trever. [K108, K109]

Oct

Kiraz visits Qumran three times (not clear why); he tries to gain access to records of Samuel’s bank accounts during 1947 to prove his side of the story. [K-108]

Nov 9

Kiraz meets with Patriarch Jacob III in Damascus and gives him a copy of Trever’s book to read. They arrange to meet later to discuss Kiraz’s case.

xxx

ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

Nov 20

Kiraz presents his case to Patriarch Jacob III. The Patriarch expresses sympathy to Kiraz’s case and promises to write to Samuel. [K-111]

Nov ?

Samuel’s book Treasure of Qumran: My Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls (The Westminster Press, n.d.) is released, in which Samuel refutes Kiraz’s claim of partnership in the title to the scrolls.

Nov 30

Trever purchases a copy of Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran, and sends a letter to Kiraz quoting the passages that refer to Kiraz. [K-112].

1967 Jan

Samuel sends Kiraz an oral message with Abdel Masiḥ Tannourji, Malak Tannourji’s brother and a friend of Kiraz, asking Kiraz to refrain from helping Trever and stop making charges against Samuel. Samuel also inquires from A. Tannourji about Kiraz’s well-being. [K-116]

March 28

Kiraz meets with Patriarch Jacob III (they met in early March, as well). The Patriarch informs him that he had written to Samuel. [K-118]

April 5

After reading Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran, Kiraz points out to Trever some discrepancies in Samuel’s story, in particular in relation to the promissory note. Kiraz notes in his letter to Trever, “So it seems Dr. I have to make a third book, you made one, Samuel made one it is my turn to make one, but with who’s help. I think with the Lord’s help.” [K-118]

May 23

Kiraz meets with Patriarch Jacob III and asks if the Patriarch can help him access the records of Samuel’s account at the Arab Bank during 1947. [K-121]

June 4

Kiraz begins writing a soon-to-be dramatic letter to Trever (see next item). [K-121]

June 7

Kiraz draws a line in the letter he started on June 4 and writes, “Until here I was writing under Jordanian Crown – June 6, 1967.” Then on the next line, “Now I am writing under Israili [sic] occupation in all Palestine.” He

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxxi

then asks Trever to communicate to Kiraz’s siblings in Jordan, Lebanon, and Kuwait that he is well. July 18

Trever reports that Samuel did not reply to the letter sent by Trever’s attorney. [K112, K-117, K124]

Dec 27

Trever shows the content of Kiraz’s affidavit to Mr. David Perley, a member of Samuel’s congregation. Trever marks the envelope containing the affidavit with “Removed [from The National City bank, Cleveland] for consultation with Mr. David B. Perley, Assyrian Lawyer. He read them on Dec. 27, 1967.”

Late 1967

Kiraz visits Yigael Yadin, Sukenik’s son. [K-129] Kiraz asks Yadin if he can help him regain the Talpioth house. Kiraz later narrated that the reply to such questions was, “will the Turks return your properties in Turkey?”1 (Kiraz’s family, and many other Christians, had lost all its property in Ottoman Turkey during the calamities that followed World War I.)

1968 Jan

Perley writes to Kiraz enquiring about Kiraz’s opinion of Samuel. Kiraz writes back. [K-131]

July

Samuel visits Jerusalem for the first time since 1948.

July 28

Kiraz pays Samuel a visit at St. Mark’s Monastery, but is unable to discuss the matter of the scrolls due to the presence of many people. [K-131]

Early Aug

Samuel passes by Kiraz’s shop in Bethlehem and stops to say hello, accompanied by a Syrian Orthodox priest (Fr. Jacob Isaac) and other members of the congregation. Samuel is in a hurry. They do not discuss the matter of the scrolls. [K-131]

1 According to the recollection of George Kiraz, this reply was given by Yigael Yadin. According to the recollection of Nijmeh Kiraz, the reply was given by a different Israeli official.

xxxii

ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE

1969 May 14

Kiraz meets Khalil Musa in the market. He asks him some questions regarding his family and the family of Moḥammad Edh-Dhib. [K-134]

1975 Trever begins revising his Untold Story of Qumran and seeks Kiraz’s help in answering some questions. [K-136 ff.] 1983 January 2

Trever attends St. Ephrem’s Church in Los Angeles for the baptism of Gilda, Kiraz’s granddaughter. Samuel is celebrating the liturgy. They were both surprised to see each other. (Samuel postpones the baptism until the following Sunday as Canon Law does not permit baptismal services between Christmas and Epiphany. See entries below.) [K-138]

January 6

The Feast of Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord.)

January 9

Samuel baptizes Gilda. Trever attends the service. Trever presents Samuel with a copy of his The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Personal Account, and asks Samuel to mark the passages to which he objects. [K-138]

February

Kiraz reads the Arabic edition of Samuel’s book and is quite upset.

March 23

Kiraz expresses his dissatisfaction in Samuel’s book in a letter to Trever. [K-141]

Nov 11

Kiraz’s wife, Nijmeh, and son, George, immigrate to the U.S. and live in Los Angeles.

1985 Early 85

Kiraz immigrates to the U.S. and makes a stop in New Jersey first. He stays with his sister-in-law Mariam and her husband Karim in Little Ferry. Both are members of Samuel’s congregation.

?

The next day, Samuel visits Kiraz and they spend the day together. Samuel and Kiraz reconcile their differences.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

xxxiii

Kiraz does not provide any details of the reconciliation, not even to his wife. (Kiraz must have given Samuel a gentleman’s word not to bring up the issue of the scrolls again and that Kiraz would again be a member of Samuel’s archdiocese.) 1990 ?

Kiraz falls ill. Samuel happens to be in Los Angeles, and pays Kiraz a visit accompanied by Very Rev. Joseph Tarzi and Samuel’s Archdeacon, the late Murad Saliba Barsoum.

1993 Dec 21

Kiraz passes away. Trever and his wife attend the funeral services. [K-148]

1995 April 16

Samuel passes away in New Jersey on Palm Sunday.

May 5

Samuel is buried at St. Ephrem Monastery, Holland. George Kiraz attends the funeral services.

July 21

Mr. George Saliba of St. Mark’s parish, Teaneck, New Jersey, takes George Kiraz on a visit to the home of Samuel. George Kiraz examines Samuel’s files, many of which are documents relating to the scrolls. Saliba had the original copy of the promissory note on the desk of Samuel. George Kiraz does not take the note.

1996 Dec 17

George Kiraz writes to Trever and asks for the return of the originals of Anton Kiraz’s affidavits, and the audio tape of the recorded interview with the Bedouins.

1997 Feb 5

Trever writes to George Kiraz that he is unable to find Anton Kiraz’s affidavits or the audio tape in his bank’s safety deposit box.

xxxiv Nov 20

ANTON KIRAZ’S DEAD SEA SCROLL ARCHIVE Trever finds the audio tape and returns it to George Kiraz.

2002 2002

Trever finds Kiraz’s affidavits, and returns them to George Kiraz, along with various communications between Trever and Kiraz.

2003 July

George Kiraz reprints Trever’s Dead Sea Scrolls: A Personal Account (Gorgias Press).

2004 August 24

Nijmeh (Anton’s wife), Guita (daughter), and George (son) visit the Trevers in California (John C. Trever is bedridden). George Kiraz shows Mrs. Trever a draft of this book. Mrs. Trever gives Salmon tins sent to her by Weston Field of the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation!

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

2 K-1

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-1

E.L. Sukenik October 1, 1948

Dear Friend, I heard that you are in Bethlehem and I hope that nothing happened to you and your family. I have now a few requests to ask you: 1. Could I get the photographs made by the American School of Oriental Research which you promised me? 2. Could you confirm to me by writing what you have told me several times that we have the same rights of publication as the Americans. The Bishop [Samuel] insists that he is the sole proprietor of the manuscripts you have shown me, contrary to my statement that you are a partner of them. With every good wish, to you and your family, Yours sincerely, E.L. Sukenik

K-2

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-2

3

Dr. Ovid R. Sellers American School of Oriental Research Jerusalem, Palestine via Amman, Transjordan May 25, 1949

Anton Kiraz Jerusalem

Anton, I am extremely sorry to learn that your health is so impaired that you must go away for medical treatment. I have looked for you whenever I have gone to the post office and have been hoping to see you. The article by the Metropolitan [Samuel] telling his story about the discovery and purchase of the manuscripts has not yet appeared. It was to be in the May number of the Biblical Archaeologist. Probably copies are on the way out. I shall save one for you if they arrive before I leave or leave work to have one saved for you if I am away when they come. Meanwhile I have a letter from Dr. Trever, dated May 1 and that is what I wanted to pass on to you. He writes: “Please assure Anton Kiraz that he can rely on me to see to it that he is justly treated. I am determined to see this thing through, so that all will be treated fairly. Anton did make a mistake in assuming that he had the right to give Sukenik rights without consulting the Metropolitan who had already given rights to the ASOR…1 “My hope is that the scrolls will bring a good price for the Metropolitan, but I am making clear to the Met. that my help is contingent upon assurance that the money is to be used for the rehabilitation of his people in Jerusalem. This has been our understanding right along as we have discussed the matter, even before I left Jerusalem. Thus I am sure Anton can continue to trust the Met. but he must not expect to get wealthy out of the deal. Would it be possible for you to get Kiraz to write to me directly stating just how the matter came to his attention and what he did? He could help me a great deal by a personal letter.” I think it would be well for you to write to Dr. Trever. His address is Dr. John C. Trever 461 Rose Avenue Des Plaines, Illinois U.S.A.

1

See K-1.

4

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-2

As I said before, I believe it would be well for you to make a full statement in legal form telling all about your connection with the scrolls. That would be good for you to send to Dr. Trever. If you would like counsel of an American friend in Beirut I am sure that Dr. George H. Scherer or the Rev. Robert Byerly of the American Mission would be willing to advise you. I enclose cards introducing you to them.1 Best regards to you.

Sincerely yours, Ovid R. Sellers

The cards are not in Kiraz’s archive, an indication that Kiraz may have utilized them. 1

K-3 K-3

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

5

Anton Kiraz c/o P.O.B. 1366 Beirut—Lebanon Azzounieh Sanatorium, June 8, 1949

Your Grace, This is to inform you that you owe me the sum of 850 Palestinian pounds, being payments I have incurred on your case […]1 including the expences. I ask you to send me this sum to the above address as soon as you receive this letter. I know that you have a promissory note signed by me for the sum of 540 Palestinian pounds dated 10/10/1947. At the expiration date you will have your right. (Kiraz gives here an assurance to Samuel that he, Kiraz, will not breach the confidentiality of a private financial matter.) I do not do like you by announcing in the United States that you have lent Anton Kiraz the sum of 540 Palestinian pounds and that you have made many favours to him. What are those favours? Tell me about them and I will send them to you double in return, and very urgently and while I am in bed. And if we see each other again, Our Lord is gracious. Be certain that Anton whom you know is the same in his character and principles. Although I am poor in money at the present, but I am still brave and have deep thinking, as you know. Nothing remains for me to write now, and I shall leave it for the future. With my greetings, Anton Kiraz

This is a reference to Kiraz resolving a private financial matter on behalf of Samuel. 1

6 K-4

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-4

Anton Kiraz Azounieh Sanatorium Bhamdoun, Lebanon June 20, 1949

Dear Dr. Ovid R. Sellers, On the 25th of May you sent for me that I may come in the dental clinic of Dr. Chadder. Sick as I am, and not allowed by doctors to use my voice, I could only say that I intend first to contact in Beyrouth [=Beirut] my friend the advocate Mr. [George] Elia. Should I recover that I can concentrate sufficient attention, I promised to answer your letter from 25th of May you have given to me. Still I am very sick here. But having read the letter thoroughly I find that I must at any cost attend the matter immediately. To contents of the letter of Dr. Trever you have reproduced to me in your letter and at the loss I am also what to do with your advise (in your letter) that “it would be well for me to make a full statement in legal form telling all about your connections with the scrolls.” I do not know what purpose this statement would serve. Would it serve to Professor Sukenik? Can it serve to the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem? Can it serve to me, since you say it would be well for me? Shall I find the key to that advice in Dr. Trever’s letter? I realize that he wants something, I cannot see still exactly what he really wants. What can he mean with “rights the Metropolitan should have given to the ASOR?” I must ask, I believe to see that Dr. Trever is driving in a blind street, should he really assume “Anton did make a mistake in assuming that he had the right to give Sukenik rights without consulting the Metropolitan who had already given rights to the ASOR.” I think that it is very improper to speak generally of “rights”, thus that the way I characterize the impression I have, that Dr. Trever wants something, while I cannot see what he really wants is porper. Even the word “consulting” Dr. Trever has used is sufficient and persuasive proof that Dr. Trever must know that I (Anton Kiraz) am equal partner in property, possession and any material and immaterial right that can be deduced in the and from the fact that I am acquirer and owner of these scrolls. Would it not be so, and would Dr. Trever not see it so on foundation of facts which may have come to his knowledge within his dealing with the Metropolitan, he, Dr. Trever would have not used merely the word “consulting”. He does not abhor to use very strong words which

K-4

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

7

must offend me. As his word is that “Anton may not expect to get wealthy etc.” Why this word consulting, if he assume what may be he would like to assume with right? And if the legal position would not be so as I have said herewith, than it would not suffice that I had merely to consult the Metropolitan, but had to take in the case of Sukenik the Metropolitan’s permission, and stand even to receive his word or not? But the Metropolitan cannot and will never have more right on the property, possession and disposition with the scrolls as I have the right. Trusting the Metropolitan as my brother and friend I did not mind him moving in Jerusalem free with the scroll, but only for the purpose that a competent examination may be secured by scientists and institutions, as I myself I have moved free around in Jerusalem with the scroll in the same aim and pursuit. And seeing that American scientists and experts should be consulted in that examination, I accepted the suggestion that the Metropolitan should take the scrolls to the United States to secure definitely reliable information and examination of the scrolls.1 But it had to be sure for me that the Metropolitan will decline any offer of prospective buyers regardless of the sum offered in the U.S.A. as in Jerusalem I have refused the offer to buy of Professor Sukenik.2 For apart from other considerations decisive had to be in regard of possible sale of the scrolls to whomever that first the scrolls had to be examined scientifically with care to all problems and questions which may arise around and from them. For only if this requirement will be fulfilled fully and unconditionally, the real value and not only the sale value can be ascertained for these scrolls. I as a non-expert believe to judge here soundly and decently. If really the scrolls derive from the 1st or 2nd century B.C. and if the one scroll contains in Hebrew language the prophecies of Isaiah and the second the minor scroll contains this Manual for training of the members of the Esseene sect, there is no elaboration required to suggest, even to a nonexpert who is ready to think, that in fact a priceless matter is in task. I may remark that meanwhile I was informed here by another expert on these Esseanes. It may be proper, if I mention here just this that our real knowledge on these Esseenes is very scarce. It would be therefore a great matter, could we hear more of these Esseenes, whose member may have been John the Baptist and even Christ, as an American scientist computed it in a work published some 11 years ago. They had as he writes their Kiraz actually did not have a prior knowledge that Samuel was going to the U.S. with the scrolls. [See K-28.] 2 For Sukenik’s offer, see K-28. 1

8

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-4

settlements near the Dead Sea and near the Dead sea the scrolls have been found. As I was told many new problems, not alone the problem of a monument of ancient Aramaic-Hebrew. If according to the opinion of Professor Sukenik and the other expert I am quoting here can be so priceless a monument would the sale of them before the real truth as regards contents and problems is ascertained be not alone premature, but more than I wish to characterize here such a venture? Moreover I am sure as businessman that any deal accomplished by whomever and under whosever auspices would be declared by any Court wherever the principals is respected that matters which contradict bonos mores cannot be subject or object of treating and deeds, as invalid while nil. First must be the examination therefore. I dwell on these matters also to refute all the suggestions made by Dr. Trever in his letter, also that the “scroll will bring a good price to the Metropolitan” and that Dr. Trever has made his help “contingent on that that the money is to be used for the rehabilitation of his people in Jerusalem.” Should the Metropolitan actually gone so far as it must seem now, he can still think twice or thrice, before I may be pressed by myself “to make a full statement in legal form telling all about connections with scrolls.” Refuting here the word of Dr. Trever as offending “that Anton Kiraz must not expect to get wealthy out of the deal”. I declare solemnly that I have neither intention nor interest that a “deal” may come in existence, before the scientific examination has not given complete results. For only for the sake of that examination in the U.S. I have consented with the necessary reservation well known to the Metropolitan that is well known to the man Athanasios Yeshue Samuel, Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem and Transjordan, Apostolic Delegate to the U.S.A. now staying in 701-37 street, North Bergen, New-Jersey, U.S. He had to take the scrolls to the U.S. for examination, as he had moved with these scrolls in Jerusalem, but never for sales and deals. He has no right to do so for other reasons which I do not want to touch here already. But he knows what is in quest here. I am very sorry that Dr. Trever has come to these conclusions. As for myself I stress the fact that I have disregarded risks connected with transportation and accidents already in these critical days in Jerusalem, in trust for God’s help, I have consented to take the risk of transportation of the scrolls to the U.S.A. But I could not expect that my friend and brother will be week and threaten the scrolls embarking on “deals”. I am firm in the belief that God has put these priceless scrolls in my hands and in the hands of my friend Yeshue, whom I still want to regard as brother, cannot will that an accident

K-4

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

9

may occur that may threaten the scrolls, but I loath to see that the servant of God behaves in the U.S. as in Jerusalem have behaved the Roman soldiers casting the dies in gambling for the robe of the Lord under his cross. The trust I have and feeling as trustee of the scrolls must move me to take legal and diplomatic action. This trust moves me to warn my friend to continue the road he has chosen under aliens influence. I mention that my friend knows as well as I know now is in fact “cared” for the rehabilitation of his people in Jerusalem […] It would again be the same case when weak as he is my friend would succumb to new temptation in Jerusalem or in America now. It is thus better not to enlarge here on realities which are well known to my friend. I write at the same time to my friend and enclose a copy of this letter which I direct to you. I hope my letter will reach him in time to warn him to deal with rights that he turns by these deals in wrongs. I thank you for your kind interest and am, Sincerely yours, Anton Kiraz

10

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-5 His Beatitude Athanasios P.O.B. 38 West New York, N.J.

[A Copy of K-4.]

K-5

Anton Kiraz June 20, 1949

K-6 K-6

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

11

Ovid R. Sellers Jerusalem June 29, 1949

Anton Kiraz

Dear Anton, Your letter of the 20th has arrived just as I am ready to leave Jerusalem for America. I am very sorry to learn that you still are sick. You have been through some difficult experiences. I hope that the stay at the sanitarium will bring about steady improvement in your health and that before long you will be able to do the work of which you were capable. I presume that you have the advice of your advocate friend, Mr. [George] Elia, and are following his instructions. I am sorry that I was unable to give you helpful advice; but there are many things about the scrolls which I do not understand. That was why I suggested that you get competent legal advice, which evidently you have done. It has been a pleasure to know you and I hope that when we meet again you will be healthy and comfortable. Sincerely yours, Ovid R. Sellers

12

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-7

K-7

E. Georges Elia, Advocate, c/o League of Red Cross Societies, 49 Rue de France, Beyrouth August 18, 1949

His Grace Metropolitan Athenasius Samuel Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem and Transjordan New York

Your Grace, Our mutual friend Anton Kiraz has requested me to approach Your Grace with regard to his rights in the Old Hebrew Scrolls in trust with you. Antone, as of course, being your personal if not only friend for years, is more than perplexed and perturbed at the rumours spread through the American School of Oriental Research that these Scrolls are your property, which Your Grace knows is not the case. Your Grace well appreciates that your silence in the matter hardly goes to relieve his worries at hearing these rumours and Antone therefore feels compelled to take legal and diplomatic actions to prevent any interference with his rights. To this end Antone has come to me and as an old friend of Your Grace, in fact a school mate, I could not advice him but to be patient and turn down all offers of interested parties, (whom you well know) to proceed out of the Arab Countries and seek resource to the U.S. Courts, if necessary. Your Grace also appreciates that for this purpose the temporary financial straits of Antone constitute no obstacle. Quite the contrary. It is my duty to tell Your Grace therefore that unless by return air mail Antone receives your personal assurance that his moiety right in the Scrolls now entrusted with you are fully preserved by you as his trustee, he will reluctantly, but very surely, take immediate steps to stop any attempt of anyone who dares by-pass his rights.1 I implore Your Grace, in your own as well as the Community’s interest, not to force Antone to take any steps… I myself refuse to believe that the Right Reverend Yeshue, Antone and myself know, will go to commit a breach of his trust. Wishing Your Grace all the best, E. Georges Elia

1

No assurance was sent by Samuel.

K-8

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-8

Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz c/o Mrs. Azinef Barikian1 Street Sassine (Hotel Dieu) Beyrouth, Lebanon via Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

13

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois August 4, 1949

Dear Mrs. Kiraz,2 His Grace, Archbishop Athanasius Y. Samuel, spent last Friday with me in my home, and discussed many things relating to your community in Palestine as well as the Hebrew scrolls which came into his possession in 1947. I do not wish in any way to interfere with personal matters which exist between him and your son, Anton, but in my view of the fact that His Grace seems to be depending heavily upon assistance in the matter of the sale of the scrolls, I feel I must write to you to explain something of the problems which we are facing here. I am quite sure that His Grace would be very provoked at me for writing to you, so I trust you will keep my action from him. It is quite apparent to me that the relations between the Archbishop and your son are somewhat strained as a result of recent circumstances and apparently the matter of the Hebrew scrolls. These differences will have to be settled between your son and His Grace privately, I feel; and there is little I can do in this regard. I do feel, however, that the Archbishop will treat your son fairly and meet any obligations which may exist between them from past agreements. I think that you should know, however, that because of what your son has done in regard to the Hebrew scrolls, the whole matter of a satisfactory sale of the scrolls is put in jeopardy. The value of the scrolls is considerable, though far from some of the spectacular estimates which have been put in the press and circulated in Palestine, and therefore there are very few persons who would be capable in this country of making the purchase. The persons who are interested, however, are very much disturbed about the Barikian may have been the owner or manager of the hotel [?]. It is not clear why Trever is writing to Kiraz’s mother. It may be the case that Trever is aware that Kiraz took offense at earlier communications through Sellers (see K-2 and K-4). 1 2

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matter of whether or not His Grace could give a clear title to the scrolls. Unless this can be done there is no hope for a sale at any adequate price. My only reason for taking such an intimate interest in the disposition of the scrolls, is because I am quite concerned about the plight of your community in Palestine. I have made it clear to His Grace that my help is contingent upon assurance that the money is to be secured for rehabilitation of your community, and that, of course, includes the rehabilitation of the merchants who have supported your church so generously in the past. Therefore, the sale of the scrolls will not make anybody rich, though it may go a long way in alleviating the suffering of your community, and help to restore it to its former position. The necessary help to your son in his present difficulty is very much a part of the rehabilitation program, and I shall personally see to it that my influence is used to assure him o[f] his share of the funds that are forthcoming. But the threatening and harsh letters which your son has written to His Grace1 are only serving to disturb the whole situation and hinder the disposition of the scrolls. Thus, the kind of position your son has been taking in the whole matter is serving to hinder aid to your whole community and can only result in harm to himself as well, in the future. May I urge you, therefore, to help your son to see, if possible, the importance of cooperating with Archbishop Samuel in the matters pertaining the scrolls. As an indication of my eagerness to have this matter cleared, and thus in the long run to help your community, as soon as I heard of the unfortunate circumstances of your son, I sent my personal check for twenty-five dollars2 immediately requesting that he [Samuel] forward it at once to help on the hospital expenses. I understand that this check has been forwarded according to my instructions. I have further urged the Archbishop to try to allocate funds to help in this heavy expenditure in every way possible. These are trying times for all, and especially trying for you folk in Palestine, but it is a time in which we need especially to practice the Christian virtues in which we profess to believe. If there is any way in which I may be of assistance in your difficult situation, do not hesitate to let me know. I am struggling under the heavy burden of my debts myself, but I am always eager to help those who are in a worse position than myself. Yours in the service of the Master, John C. Trever

1 2

See K-3 and K-7. = $188 in 2002.

K-9 K-9

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Ill.

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

15

Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Aman-Transjordan

September 1, 1949

Dear Dr. Trever, I have to aknowledge receipt of your kind letter from 4. August 1949, and beg to excuse this belated reply. For we had to face new difficulties before my son could leave the hospital and before we could secure a new refuge abode. Our new address you will find below. So far my son is now restored, but is expected to be reconvalescent still at least for a half year. It is for this reason that it is impossible to harass him now with the “scrolls” affaire and I have just been just only to get from him some information, that I may be able to give here my personal view first, and indeed only wanting to express so my appreciation for your helpfulness. 1.) There is—as it seems to me—first important this fact that up till now my son has been very reticent in the affair. I have now at least the key to open the door for understanding of his psychical sufferings, since this suffering caused owing to the discord with his friend [Samuel] has contributed certainly to the outbreak of his terrible disease. 2.) I understand and this may also be of importance should actually court action proceed as we heard from Rev. Malak, who has visited my son. He has visited my son—let me say as messenger who was send by the Archbishop Athanasios [Samuel]. I also understand now better the words the Archbishop said to me in Jerusalem in May 1948, when we watched— my son was in the Lebanon—the looting of the Jewish synagogue. Since our place the Convent of St. Marc is in the vicinity of that synagogue we saw crowds carrying away books. The words of the Archbishop were: “These books have not great value, but the writing your son and I bought together some months ago, are extraordinary precious valuables.” I stress here that in the language which we used the word “kutub” was employed which means first of all “writings”, therefore, scrolls. I must be ready to give testimony that the right of my son and therefore his property the scrolls is proved indisputably. But my son also said now to me: “Do not worry, mother, I have other proofs in my hands. I do not threat and have

16

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K-9

nothing done for which Dr. Trever has scolded me in the letter to you. And I have also nothing to do with that court action.” These latter things he disclosed me only on the 18. August, 1949, when he was so far restored to attend again to his affairs. In his interest Mr. George Elia his friend and advocate has dispatched a letter to the Archbishop where solemn warnding [sic, read: warning] was sounded to the Archbishop, that he must expect legal action of my son, if his the Archbishop’s answer should be further delayed, or come in any unsatisfactory way. I was unable to hear anything more from my son. I myself am stunned about the whole matter and must so far agree with the scorn of my son, that his good right is abused now by the Archbishop in the pursuit, as he claims, to provide rehabilitation for Syrians in Jerusalem. 3.) I must express here also astonishment and with frank sincerity I must ask you, as mother, to examine conscientiously this what you call “strained relations” between my son and the Archbishop and believing that “these differences will have to be settled privately” and “that there is little I can do in this regard”. I think that you could do very much and should do, since you must beforehand ascertain the right of property “and obligations which exist between them from past agreements.” For so you must do—I believe—before you can help the sale of the scrolls which you assert that “they came into the Archbishop’s possession in 1947.” And here I appear as the first witness before you, testifying now at first before you the words as regards the scrolls as they came from the lips of the Archbishop and certainly from the bottom of his heart. They are the acknowledgement of the right of my son given by the Archbishop in May 1948 in Jerusalem in the Convent of St. Mark. 4.) I have the first time written to you without informing my son and thank God that my first letter has received your consideration and now I pray again to God that he may enlighten your head which certainly very clever, that you may see the case in the light of truth, a my son and I also see. But there is only one truth. 5.) All I can now do is to keep every excitement far from my son, but I declare myself ready to help you in that matter instead of my son, whose help you have requested in a letter, you wrote to Dr. Sellers in May 49. I believe that there must be still possibility to avoid actions which must cause more damage than we may guess, if such valuable things are in task and have been entrusted by God’s Providence to my son, who is by far not so sure that these precious matters must be the object of business action and claimed for charity purposes which have just merely to be paid from the pocket of my ruined son.

K-9

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

17

Hence I regret to say also frankly that I personally am not able and ready to accept your contention, as regards the sale of these scrolls and use of the money which would be obtained just only in this way. 6.) Mentioning money requires here acknowledgement of the receipt of your check for twent-five US dollars which I have cashed in our precarious need. But I was not able hitherto to see whether this is meant as personal contribution you are making to us, or does it come from a charity fund? I express herewith my sincere thanks, but should this amount drive personally from you we shall have of course the task to pay back the debt, if God will help us again. I must leave it now to you whether you can accept the services I have offered here, but I must beg you to keep my son out of a matter now since he is owing to the scrolls as well so badly harmed in his health. Yours truly, Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz

18

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-10

Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Amman Hashemite, Jordan

K-10

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

September 27, 1949

Dear Mrs. Kiraz, Your letter of September 1 arrived a few days ago, and I have given it my most careful thought. I wish to express to you my sincere appreciation for your writing in such detail and in such a friendly spirit. I assure you that my whole desire in this matter relating to the scrolls is to try to bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of people and to see that justice is done in every point. The matter is most complicated, and is causing a great deal of distress in this country as a result of the multiple complications which have arisen. Most of them can be attributed to the war conditions in Palestine, and to the difficulties of communication which have caused so much confusion for so long. I do not have time to write at length to you at this moment; in fact, it is necessary for me to dictate this letter to my secretary in order to get ready to leave for a ten-day tour of speaking engagements in Pennsylvania which begins tomorrow. Thus I am jammed up with a multitude of final details that must be cleared before I leave. I considered it good news to learn that your son has shown so much improvement in his health, and I trust that he will continue to improve under your careful guidance and deep sympathy. Your letter puts me in a very delicate situation in my relationship to the Archbishop Athanasius, but I am nevertheless happy to have your letter and shall guard it as an important witness to the problems which yet face me in untangling this amazing mystery story of the Jerusalem scrolls. Please inform your son that I have never intended that anything I have written to be “scolding” him, but that I desire with all care to unravel the mysteries involved, and help to bring justice to all concerned. [sic, line break] I have talked at length with Dr. Sellers who is at last in Chicago once again, and we plan to get together frequently in the next weeks to discuss

K-10

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

19

the problems which we all face. I feel that the picture is gradually clearing and helping me to determine the next moves which I must take. With regard to the money which I have sent to the Archbishop with the suggestion that it be forwarded to you for your needs, may I say that it is a charitable gift and I would never consider accepting repayment. May I say that one of the factors which I think looms very large in this matter is the fantastic estimate which has been placed upon these scrolls by reporters and others who know nothing about it in the Near EaSt. I understand that fabulous values have been suggested for the scrolls in publications in the Near East, but none of these stories have emanated from a reliable source. Anyone who claims that these scrolls will bring as much as a million dollars in this country has no grounds for such statements, and is totally unrealistic to the present economic problems of the world. I hope you will bear it firmly in mind and help your son to understand it also, if he does not already, that it is very uncertain whether the scrolls, if sold in this country, could possibly bring even as much as $200,0001. An appraiser for an insurance company has approximated the value at between $150,0002 and $200,000 for purposes of insurance, and we are certain that his estimate is the maximum. May I say that the way the situation is developing here in this country now with the negotiations that have been going on between the American Schools of Oriental Research and myself and other parties concerned, there are some real serious problems involved that may make any sale of the scrolls to the benefit of the Syrian community unlikely, as far as this country is concerned. Please understand that the spirit of those who are working on this matter here in this country is one of a great desire to help those who have suffered so much in the Near East, and it is hoped that the scrolls may be a means to a genuine assistance. Thank you again for your kindness in writing in such detail, and I assure you that I will do all in my power to cooperate with all parties involved. Yours in the service of the Master, John C. Trever

1 2

= $1,510,000 in 2002. = $1,132,000 in 2002.

20

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-11

Dr. Ovid Sellers 2330 North Halsted Street Chicago 14, Ill. U.S.A.

K-11

Anton Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine

September 27, 1949

Dear [Dr.] Sellers, I thank you very much for sending me the Biblical Archaeologist issued Sept. 1948 and May 1949, but unfortunately they reached me only a week or so ago, since your dispatch travelled from America over Beyruth, thereafter to Amman and then reached me in Bethlehem. For I have left the Hospital in the Lebanon on Aug. 17, 1949 and am staying now in Bethlehem under the address you find noted below. Your envelope with the Biblical Archaeologist arrived as I can see from the date of the postal impression stamp on the 2 Sept. 1949 in Amman. Although I was hitherto unable to read the Magazines since I am ordered by Doctors to keep anything that could excite me afar, I beg You to send me whatever would appear in print and concern the scrolls. I hope that next month my state will have improve so far that I can devote again attention to the matter of the scrolls which has excited me, as you could have observed here, so much and must have according to the doctors point of view a great share in the sickness I have acquired. Only so much I want to say, that I hope to restore my health so far that I shall better care for my unquestionable right in these scrolls—from Jerusalem or from Beyruth. I ask you, therefore, to keep your kind interest for me, also in this matter. Please accept thanks for the interest you have devoted to me, and accept the best regards from Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

K-12

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-12

Anton Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Trans-Jordan

21

Ovid R. Sellers 2330. N. Halsted Street Chicago 14, Ill. U.S.America

October 14, 1949

Dear Anton, I was glad to get your letter of 27 September and to learn that you were improved well enough to go to Bethlehem. I trust that you have a reasonably comfortable place to stay there and that your health will improve. You have had a great deal of trouble and it is no wonder that you have been ill; but I hope that you can be reasonably free from worry and that eventually you can have the kind of life that you spirit and ability deserve. Since my return to Chicago I have had one visit with Dr. Trever and I feel sure that he wants to see you fairly treated in the matter. He told me that the Metropolitan wanted to see me when I was in New York last month and I tried to see the Metropolitan there. I was, however, unable to get any response over the telephone where he was staying and I did not reach the Rev. Mr. Sugar,1 who seems to have a good deal to do with the Metropolitan’s business. There is to be an exhibition of the manuscripts in the Library of Congress in Washington later this month. So far as I know nobody has offered to buy the manuscripts and I doubt whether anyone will make an offer so long as there is doubt about the ownership of them. I shall be on the lookout for anything which appears in the newspapers about the scrolls and I shall send you anything that may come in the Biblical Archaeologist or the Bulletin of the American Schools regarding them. I shall be glad to hear from you any time you feel like writing and I assure you of my sincere regards. You have my best wishes for your return of good health. Sincerely yours, Ovid R. Sellers

Very Rev. Elias G. Sugar (b. Mardin, Turkey, 1893; d. New Jersey, 1963). He was a priest under Samuel. 1

22

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-13

P. Ovid R. Sellers 2330 N. Halsted Street Chicago 14, Ill. U.S.A.

K-13

Anton Kiraz c/o Hanah Azizeh Bethlehem via Aman Hashimite Kingdom Jordan

October 30, 1949

Dear Dr. Sellers, I have thankfully to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 7.X.1949 which was real comfort for me in my situation. My health is improving thus that I was able to read the Biblical Archaeologist and I shall refer in a separate letter [see K-14] to some points since I resent to mix this personal letter with that affair of the scrolls which is causing me so much distress and is damaging my health. I desire to place here only the remark that I would be very glad, if your reference that Dr. Trever “wants to see me fairly treated in the matter” would only materialize soon, but I must also say that I am realizing now since I have read the two articles that I will have now to resort to a more energetical pursuit of my rights which have not been sufficiently stressed and even not exactly defined till this date, first of all because I have still indulged in trust to the archbishop who was many years my friend, and for the second, that I had the bad luck to fall ill when I had been pressed to reexamine this friendship. Indeed then I became unable to take care of my not alone for myself, but certainly for humanity so important affair. There is now also a new item of sorrow which has come over me: as it seems, we Syrians1 shall not be acknowledged as citizens here anymore whatever may evolve from the uncertainties in Palestine. I am therefore beginning in the literal sense to lose the very soil under my feet. I am thinking of leaving this country, but where to go? I appeal to you, kindly to inquire, whether there would be a possibility for me, to get an immigration permit in the States. I may be pardoned, when I am abusing here your kind interest, but I must not explain just to you the conditions of our distress. All assurances, you may read in the Press in the US. that we in Palestine are helped, are simple fake and hypocrisy, how many months it has been said, it is now two years that life has become impossible here for any decent fellow and the 1

i.e., the Syriac-speaking Christians.

K-13

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

23

word in the Bible of the den of the thieves is true more that ever; there is neither work available nor an opening, nor any hope. How could I expect then to earn my living, when I would lose here even the only thing I still have to lose my citizenship which I have possessed so many years. With regards to these facts you may also judge the following representations I am making in the second enclosed letter. In this first letter I have desired to place merely my thanks and my new application direct to your kindness. I am sure that you will try to consider it. I am yours sincerely Anton Kiraz

24

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-14

Dr. Ovid R. Sellers 2330 N. Halsted Street Chicago 14, Ill. U.S.A.

K-14

Anton Kiraz c/o Hanah Azizeh Bethlehem via Aman Hashimite Kingdom Jordan

October 30, 1949

Dear Dr. Sellers, This should be a long letter, but I am restricting myself and will state only the most necessary items: A.) As regards the Biblical Archaeologist’s publications1 I am now contacting my advocate in Beyruth to send to the Editor and therefore also to the authors concerned my solemn protest. 1.) In quest comes here not alone the archbishop, but also Dr. Trever since the article is phrased by him and it contains in the be[s]t case just 25% truth as far as the scrolls are concerned there. My passport and the entries in it and in the passport of the Metropolitan […] will prove decisive circumstances which led to the trip in September 1947 in my car and if I am pressed to render proofs there will come up before court many and varied items before court, since I cannot tolerate anymore further violations and intrusions in my ownership and property of the scrolls which I have secured and acquired lawfully in a time when those who would have been called up to take care of the prescriptions of the Palestine Law of Antiquities showed themselves definitely unconcerned. But on the other hand there is no reason for anybody and hence also not for the Biblical Archaeologist to speak of the “scrolls of the Metropolitan” or the “Jerusalem scrolls.” If I will have no other way than the way to court the Metropolitan will be faced with new difficulties, apart from the fact that he will have to admit the variety of difficulties in which he had brought himself in these past days which have preceeded and have still followed after the trip to Syria to the Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphram I in September 1947. His American friends should remind him of these things rather. 2.) For as I see, the Metropolitan is employing, as I hear from you, many for his business -- (I beg you pardon, but I refer here to your 1

1949, no. 2.

K-14

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

25

expression, that “the Rev. Mr. Sugar seems to have a good deal to do with the Metropolitan’s business”.) The fact is that the Metropolitan in court will have no other way than to give evidence of many financial affairs which concern him and the Convent [of St. Mark], must have depressed and even confounded his mind in that critical time, where this trip had to occur and where again I had to be the guardian on a better road of the Metropolitan. I do not intend to enlarge here, but it would be good, if somebody would advise the Metropolitan that even in the U.S.A. he can one day still expect consequences of that affair—to give here only one example for my contention as regards “financial affairs”— (Kiraz then refers to an incident concerning the financial affairs of the Syriac school in Jerusalem.)1 B.) As regards ownership, I am able to prove that I am and only I am the lawful owner and that the dealing with the Metropolitan is therefore nil and void. This remark should be considered also by Dr. Trever. I must insist that the report of the Metropolitan in the Archaeologist as phrased by Dr. Trever is incorrect and it is my duty to advise Dr. Trever to consider this statement duly. 3.) At the same time the statement made under 2.) goes also to the American Schools of Oriental Research and of course also to the Editor of the Archaeologist. To the letter my advocate will direct a protest2 asking him to declare that on p. 35 (1949/2) first column the statement from “He...to possible”3 is contradicting the facts. 4.) I am protesting that the American Schools have undertaken any publication as regards photocopies of these scrolls and will certainly not fail to persecute my copyrights as owner of the scrolls. 5.) I protest also against the exhibitions of the scrolls wherever and against anything done with the scrolls without my consent, therefore also chemical investigations from the case that damage would occur. Kiraz is referring to a dispute that arose between the hierarchy of St. Mark’s Monastery and the community regarding the lease of the community’s school for 99 years. The entire community had boycotted the monastery. Kiraz stepped in and brought a reconciliation between the two parties. 2 There is no record of such protest in Kiraz’s archive. 3 The quote in BA reads, “He [Sukenik] continued his negotiations with Kiraz who claimed that he had as much priority with the scrolls as the Metropolitan, since he had a half-share in the matter. This the Metropolitan has denied repeatedly and emphatically. In any event, the matter is now settled, and the American Schools are proceeding with the publication of the Metropolitan’s manuscripts as rapidly as possible.” This entire column is marked with a pen in Kiraz’s copy of the issue. 1

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K-14

I would be thankful to you would you kindly forward this letter to all who are concerned and thanking for your kind help I remain yours sincerely Anton Kiraz

K-15

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-15

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

27

Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

November 1, 1949

Dear Dr. Trever, I was very thankful for your letter, but did not see any reason to trouble you anymore. The health of my son has improved, but the unfortune was that he had read these magazines and they have existed him thus that I fear that it may again turn worse. I have now succeeded to get from him information which I did not have before and I must confess that I understand that he sees the only way he has is to take court action against the Metropolitan. If my son tells me that the Americans are now making business with these scrolls and we have here to starve and to wither in need, it is certainly a sad matter. I should not miss the opportunity to say here also a frank word as regard the support so often promised by the Metropolitan to the Syrians. The fact is that eg. old clothing that has come from England and has been in some small amount allotted also to the Syrian [Orthodox community] did not even reach the most needy, as I have sufficient knowledge of it. I myself have sufficient reasons and experiences to distrust to these promises and to Palestine charity in peculiar and the matters experienced in the last two years render a vast material of proofs, if you require them. It is therefore also for me not easy to take your comforting words in the spirit you would like them to be taken and as regards the Metropolitan, please excuse me, if I appreciating your kind behaviour against me, tell you frankly that I am sure that the boat of the Metropolitan will founder sooner or later and I would be really sorry should you also suffer helping him. For the way the Metropolitan has taken against my son is a wrong way and I have now sufficient information of my son, whom I believe as a mother. My son has time and again given to that man [Samuel] lifebelts and has saved him in his boat and has saved him in the sea when the boat has foundered, but who will save him [Kiraz] when now his boat will founder? Excuse therefore also the following question: You always assure— and also Dr. Sellers has written us in similar sense of you, that you are

28

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K-15

endeavouring that everyone should have his fair deal in the affair of the scrolls. When we are now able and ready, to prove you that the Metropolitan has abused his friend and that his road is wrong and that his claim of ownership has no foundation, is there now not offered to you a great opportunity to secure that my son gets his fair deal and can dispose with his lawful property and must not suffer since his friend has abused him? I would appreciate to receive disregard your most concret[e] reply already for the reason that I have caused my son to postpone here court action which is possible here without fees for him here so long, till I receive your reply. I ask you to accept my thanks for your kind behaviour against us and am sure that you will also not disappoint us with the answer, we shall receive to this letter. I thank you and send you my best wishes and regards as

yours sincerely, Lousazine Kiraz

K-16

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-16

29

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

Mrs. Lousazine Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan November 27, 1949

Dear Mrs. Kiraz, Unfortunately your letter of November 1 arrived while I was on an extended tour of speaking engagements in the Western States, and I have been unable to answer it before now. First let me thank you for your kind, yet frank, remarks. Gradually I am coming to see the whole picture relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls better, but there is still a great deal that distresses me about the whole affair. I have read your letter carefully, but find it difficult to determine just what you expect of me in my answer. I am sure you realize that I am in a very difficult position in this whole matter, and am eager to help where I can; but I wield no special power over anyone to bring about a solution to these problems. I am merely an individual who happened to be called in on the matter of the scrolls by His Grace, the Archbishop, through the priest, The late Father Butros Sowmi. It seems strange to me that during all the weeks I was working so earnestly on the scrolls, never once did I hear the name of your son, Anton, mentioned, nor any suggestion made that there was a partner involved in the original purchase. I assumed from February 18, when I first heard about the scrolls, until April 5, 1948, when I left Palestine, that I was working with the owner of the scrolls. [And?]1 I note from the letter you sent me on September 1, 1949, that you were apparently on good terms with the Archbishop even after I left; and apparently for some time after that. Did your son know of all the hard work I was doing, and if so, why did he not make himself known to me or to other members of the ASOR? Surely he must have known what I was doing, if he was a partner as he claims. Thus I am sure you must see that I have no evidence from my personal experience to go on in support of your son’s claims. The only evidence I have is the repeated and categorical denials of the Archbishop that your son has any rights in the original property. This is hearsay evidence, so I am not in a position to defend anyone, but merely to 1

There is a punch hole in the letter.

30

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-16

say what I have been told. My relationship to the article which appear in the May issue of the Biblical Archaeologist is the same, for I was merely reporting what I was told to report. I did my best to get other evidence for the purpose of my own thinking and understanding, but unfortunately I could not get cooperation from those concerned. I would be delighted to receive from your son, from Mr. Khalil Khando, and from Mr. George Isaiah (or is it Eli1 as you indicate?) independent stories about what happened preceding the purchase of the scrolls and up to the time I was called upon, but so far I have only the onesided story with a few minor helps from Dr. Sukenik. I plan to write the full story into a book whenever the time comes that I can obtain all the facts, but I have become suspicious about the possibility of obtaining all the facts from the parties concerned in view of the strife that seems to exist. If the Archbishop has dealt unfairly with your son, so far I have very little evidence upon which to go, but I am open to discover the truth if it is possible. If it is true, I shall be dreadfully sorry, for it would be a serious blow to your Church and community. Recently Dr. Sellers and I had lunch together to discuss your letter and the one your son sent to him with instructions to send it on to others concerned. I was distressed to discover that your son has changed his story, for I was beginning to feel that his story had merits, and I had begun to take steps to see what could be done in his favour. Never has there been any other claim on his part prior to now that he had exclusive rights and full title to the scrolls. He has consistently claimed that he was a partner in the deal, having paid half of the purchase price. This is the story as I have it from Dr. Sukenik, from Dr. Sellers, and from yourself. Now he suddenly makes claims to them all. I cannot help being suspicious of this in view of the former claims and in view of the fact that the Archbishop has the scrolls in his possession. Until I read this I felt inclined to believe his story. In fact I had even gone so far as to approach the Archbishop more forcefully in the matter, but now I feel it would be unwise to disturb my relationship to him on your son’s behalf if he is going to try to do an injustice to the Archbishop in return. Thus, before I take any further steps to try to get the Archbishop to reconsider his point of view, I must await a clearer understanding and further proof of what your son claims. Even Dr. Sellers seemed quite disturbed by this sudden change in you son’s claim. Trever is here confusing George Isaiah, who lived at St. Mark’s Monastery and was involved in the scrolls story, and Elia George, Kiraz’s attorney. 1

K-16

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

31

I deeply regret that this situation has gone so far as to require court action by your son, for I feel sure that no good will come out of it for anyone. I am sure that no one in this country will even consider buying the scrolls in view of the situation, and especially if this goes into court action. The real danger, it seems to me, and I speak with no authority form anyone of course, is that the Kingdom of Jordan will find some way to destroy the claims of the Archbishop as well as your son. Has any attempt been made by your son to reach a settlement with the Archbishop directly? All I know about the situation is that your son has demanded money of the Archbishop with a sort of threatening tone, so I have been informed. I am willing to use my influence on the Archbishop to urge him to reach a reasonable settlement with your son, but I cannot see any justice in his claiming everything. Of course I am in no position to make any guarantees, since I hold no especial authority, but only the persuasion a friend might yield. I appreciate your sincere desire to solve the difficult problems you are facing, and I hope that there will be some way in which I can help, but I can certainly be of no value in a legal battle. With sincere best wishes and warm regards, I remain, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

32 K-17

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Ill.

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-17

Anton Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Trans-Jordan

December 20, 1949

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter sent to my mother dated 27, Nov. 1949 has been received, and she forwarded it to me for answering it, because there are some questions you are asking, and she don’t know about the whole case. I/ Your question while you was working on the Scrolls during the period you mentioned, you did not hear about Anton, and why if he was a partner he did not make himself known to me or to other members of the ASOR. The answer: At that time His Grace asked me to show you the Scrolls, and told me that he made an appointment with you, and I told him yes you may show it to him. After two days I went to the Convent of St. Marc, and asked him what had happened, he said that you took different photos to the Scrolls. and also he had the lunch with you in the ASOR with father Peter Sowmi. I asked him w[h]ere are the Scrolls, he said that he left them with you for a few days to study them. And he forward to me a letter which was signed by you and another member of the ASOR. Shortly let me say what was written in this letter which was signed by you and your friend: Certifying that you have received the Scrolls from His Grace and father Peter Sowmi for study them. I asked him why it is mentioned father Peter’s name here instead of my name. His Grace said that we did not said that the Scrolls belongs to me or to you. I asked him what did you say then? He said we told them that we found them in the Library of the Convent, and we want to know their age, because in our books it is not shown the date how old are they. So I said all right, because there was no difference between us. We were not only good friends, I can say even brothers. I was not dreaming these days. (Kiraz then states that at the time, he did not want to contradict Samuel’s account regarding the find.)

K-17

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

33

2/ You mentioned in your letter for my suddenly change of claiming them all. I am really the full owner of them, but I made him partner for private circumstances, and this will be proved when it will be necessary.1 Be sure Dr. Trever if I had no enough patient the court action it had been taken long time ago, but His Grace is not thinking what will be the end in court, I think he needs a little more to think over, and he must accept the advice of others sometimes, otherwise the end of it is going to be very bad. I am very sorry to say that, I was injured when I read in your letter that I demand money from the Archbishop with a sort of threatening tone, so you have been informed, I have also before long time ago, he mentioned to you that he have done to me many favours. I can say that the money which I have demand[ed] from His Grace it is not in the way of threatening him, but it is a real right I am asking him. And the value which I have asked him is (eight hundred and fifty Pal. pounds) which I have worked in his case2 for complete eleven months, and I spent (two hundred and fifty Pal. pounds) from my own pocket. And I can say also that I have put few bills of few hundred pounds as trustee by his Grace when I left Palestine to Lebanon on May 1948, and still they are with him. Now Dr. Trever I like to tell you what happened with me lately when I became ill. My Lodge3 heard that I was ill, they offered me some money and I refused to accept it, but they forced me to take it and return it when I can, and that was after passing few weeks, while I still was in bed in Jerusalem, and the doctors told me I must leave to Lebanon soon. Then another friend came to visit me with his wife at home, when he intended to leave me he took out of his pocket (fifty Pal. pounds) and forwarded it to me, I refused to take it and I start to cry with returning the money back to him, and at last he gave them to my father telling me it is a shame to you Anton there is no difference between friends, and mentioned me, what I was helping them and making charities with large quantity of money to every one. I was preferring to die, and not to open my hand to people. It was not nice from me to mention this two things Dr. but you should understand me, that I am not from those people who like to threat neither to be threaten. Yes I was not going to ask His Grace any amount even my expenses and hard work, but as far as he gave me this trouble I must ask every right I For Kiraz’s account on how he became partner, see Kiraz’s affidavit, K-28. The ‘case’ is a financial scam of which Samuel was a victim (see K-28). 3 Kiraz was a member of a Masonic Lodge. 1 2

34

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-17

have. And if he has done me many favours, he should let me know what are they. I asked him in my letter dated 8th June 1949 [K-3], but even he did not answer, and I have sent him a warning through my Advocate on 18th. of August 1949 [K-7], and still waiting for answers. I don’t like to make my letter longer and I am sorry to give you troubles, I end my letter with sending you best regards from my mother, and accept my best regards to you and Mrs. Trever. And I wish you MerryMerry Christmas and a Bright and Happy New Year. I remain yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

K-18

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-18

35

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

Anton Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem, Palestine via Amman, Hashemite Jordan January 11, 1950

Dear Mr. Kiraz, Your letter of December 20 has arrived and I appreciate the fine spirit of friendliness which you express in it, and I assure you that the feelings are mutual. I have read your letter with great care and studied it against the background of earlier correspondence from your mother, from Dr. Sellers, from Dr. Sukenik, and others, and I am still puzzled about some statements which you make. With regard to the matter of my statement about your “threatening” letters, may I say that the Archbishop sent me a copy of one of your letters in Arabic, and I had it translated by a disinterested party who is a specialist in that field, and I made my statement on the basis of that translation. I felt it was due in large parts to your illness, and did not represent your true nature. If I have misinterpreted the letter, I am sorry, but it gave me strange feeling at the time. I appreciate your statement with regard to my query about not having met you in Palestine, though it still leaves me puzzled about some things. With the matter of your full claim to the ownership to the scrolls, I feel your remarks do not make the matter at all clear. You yourself use the expression “partner for private circumstances” referring to the Archbishop. This is in itself an admission that you do not have full title to the scrolls. May I add also that in August, 1948, Dr. Sellers reported that he had had a talk with you, and your story at the time was that the Archbishop had called you and invited you to participate in the purchase of the scrolls. In addition, I have a letter from your mother stating the partnership relation. Your story to Dr. Sellers also tallied with that given by Dr. Sukenik on two occasions. He even published the fact of your partnership in his book, Megilloth Genuzoth, p. 10. How can I believe what you say now in view of these strong, earlier evidence? If the Archbishop has treated you wrong, I am sorry, and shall do what little I can to right it; but I can’t be a party to this kind of

36

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-18

inconsistency. This has distressed me about the Archbishop also, so I am beginning to distrust all those involved in Palestine. In the meantime, all I can see is that this situation means no sale of the scrolls, and no substantial help for the Syrians as a result. Thus I feel concerned. Trusting that a just solution may be worked out in the near future, and with warm regard to you and your mother, I am, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

P.S. You mention receiving “a letter which was signed by you (me) and another member of the ASOR” from His Grace, apparently on February 21 or 22, 1948. I have searched my records and find no reference to such a letter. Besides, they did not leave all the scrolls at the ASOR. They left only the two sections of “The Book of Discipline” and the one that had not been unrolled. This is strange. Could I get a photostatic copy of that letter to check signatures?

K-19

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-19

Anton Kiraz c/o Hannah Azizeh Bethlehem via Amman The Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan

37

Ovid R. Sellers 2330. North Halsted Street Chicago 14, Ill. U.S.America

January 20, 1950

Dear Anton, Your Christmas card, with its Bethlehem flowers and the picture of the entrance to the Church of the Nativity has just arrived. It is a beautiful card and I thank you very much for it. I trust that the Christmas season afforded you some joy and hope. My recent attempts to communicate with you have not been successful. A copy of the Biblical Archaeologist1 which I mailed to you was turned back at the New York post-office with the notice that such matter was not mailable to the country addressed. Then some letters, though addressed “via Amman, Transjordan,” were sent to Israel, where they were opened, censored, and returned with the stamp “Destination Parti.” I believe, however, that mail now is receiving better treatment. I asked Dr. Kelso, who is director of the American School in Jerusalem this year, to see that you received a copy of the Biblical Archaeologist and I believe he has done so. There was nothing in it of great interest to you except a note about the assembling of the pottery taken from the cave at Ain Fashkha. I wish I could have some good news to report to you; but now I am not in close touch with those who are concerned with the scrolls. Occasionally I talk on the telephone with Dr. Trever and I believe that he has been in communication with you and your mother. During the Christmas holidays I attended a meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegeses at Cincinnati and listened to three papers by people who think the scrolls are not of much importance. Dr. Zeitlin of Dropsie College still says that there is no proof that the scrolls were found in the cave and no proof that they were in the jars that were in the cave and that there is no proof that the cloth is ancient or was in the jars. Dr. Orlinsky says that the scrolls were written from dictation from one who was quoting Probably vol. XII (May, 1949), no. 2, or (September, 1949), no 3, both of which are in Kiraz’s archive. 1

38

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-19

from memory and therefore are of no use in finding out anything about the official text of the Bible. Dr. Lacheman says that nothing can be proved by the shape of the letters. Since then I have seen in a bulletin of the Library of Congress a statement from a man named Wexler, who says that before the troubles he was invited by Stephan Hanna to look at two scrolls which Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel had. When the Bishop showed him these scrolls he recognized one as Isaiah and say that it was old. The other was a collection of sayings to be read and the ink on that was not old. So he intimates that the Bishop hid the later scroll in order to make the Isaiah scroll seem more valuable. Dr. Burrows, however, says that the Bishop had a good many scrolls, most of which had been in his library for years. He thinks that the Isaiah scroll came from the cave and that the other was one which had been in the library. Your handwriting indicates that your are improved in health, and I sincerely hope that you are better. Here we are unable to tell how the political situation will develop; but I hope that eventually you will get back some of your property1 and that again there will be opportunity for you to engage in useful work. I wish you could come to this country; but our immigration laws are very tight. Best regards and every good wish to you. Sincerely yours, Ovid R. Sellers

1

A reference to the Talpioth house which Kiraz lost to Israel in the 1948 war.

K-20

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-20

John C. Trever

39

Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Palestine Via Trans-Jordan February 23, 1950

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter of January 11 has arrived and, being in Amman, I greatly regret not to have been able to reply sooner. Referring to your declaration that you have searched your recoreds and did not find reference to a letter signed by you and another member of the ASOR, I can presume and say that such a letter—or copy—may have been left in the American School at JERUSALEM. I also add that a week ago, I communicated with Mrs. J. L. KELSO in order to search about the said letter or copy in the American School, and to send it to you. Mrs. J. L. KELSO took my address but, till now, she did not give me the result of her researches: It is probable that the Prof. KELSO will communicate directly with you. Concerning the Archbishop I knew that he is intending to return to Palestine; in order to be more sure, I have written1 to his Beatitude Mar Ignatius Aphram I, in Homs (Syria). If the Archbishop really comes back again to Palestine, I will follow him according to the local procedure; if not, I will have to take the appropriate procedure in order to follow him in the U.S. With kind regards and best wishes I remain, Dear Sir, Cordially yours, Anton Kiraz

1

There is no record of this letter in the archive.

40

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-21

Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Palestine via Amman

K-21

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

May 12, 1950

Dear Mr. Kiraz, Your letter of February 23 has been here for a long time, but I have been waiting for further information before answering it. I am still not able to imagine just what you have in mind when you refer to a letter signed by me and another member of the ASOR. Could you tell me the date when the letter was written? I have not heard from Dr. Kelso, except indirectly through Dr. Sellers. I understand that the search for the copy of the letter brought forth nothing to help in the situation. I do recall preparing a statement of progress for the Archbishop, according to his request. I have evidence to show that this statement was prepared on Tuesday, March 2, 1948, and this may be the document to which you refer. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of that statement, though I thought I prepared one for myself. According to my records, this statement was delivered to the Syrian Convent on March 2, 1948 on the occasion of my visit to the Convent with Dr. Burrows, who had just returned from Iraq after a two weeks’ absence. When you said that the scrolls were left at the American School of Oriental Research by the Archbishop, that cannot be true for, as I believe I have said before, only the Manual of Discipline (which was then in two parts) was left with me at that early time. The situation was this: on Saturday February 21, the Archbishop and Father Sowmy brought all the scrolls to the American School in Jerusalem, and Dr. Brownlee and I repaired them and photographed the Isaiah Scroll and the Habakkuk Commentary. At four o’ clock that afternoon, a taxi came from the Archbishop and Father Sowmy and they left with the scrolls which had been photographed and with the Fourth Scroll, leaving only the two sections of the Manual of Discipline and a small fragment with me which I put in the safe. The following Tuesday, Dr. Brownlee and I paid a visit to the Convent in the Old City, and at that time delivered the Manual of Discipline carefully repaired and having been photographed, according to the understanding of the Archbishop and Father Sowmy.

K-21

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

41

The only written document, therefore, that I presented to the Archbishop in connection with this early period was the report of progress which was prepared and presented on March 2 after Dr. Burrows had returned from Iraq, but even then I am puzzled about your statement that two of us signed the document, since it is my impression that I was the only one to sign it. In view of the uncertainty of the situation which you describe, I would be very grateful to you if you could provide me with a photostatic copy of the communication which you say you have and which is signed by me. I should add that the Isaiah scroll and the Habakkuk Commentary were left at the American School for me to photograph during the second part of March, but I do not know the exact dates at the moment. At that time I believe they were left for a period of two days, during which I made the second group of photographs; since I was disappointed with the first set I had prepared on February 21. It was this second group of photographs which has been published by the American School of Oriental Research in Volume I entitled, The Dead Sea Scrolls of St. Mark’s Monastery. I trust you have received a copy of this by now, for I requested that one be sent to you.1 I am sure you will be pleased with the results of the careful work done by the printers in the preparation of this beautiful volume. With sincere best wishes and warm regards, I remain Cordially yours, John C. Trever

1 This book is not part of Kiraz’s book collection. In 1982, this small collection was incorporated with the editor’s collection which now contains a copy of this volume, purchased from an antiquarian bookshop in Groningen in 1992 or 1993.

42

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-22

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

K-22

Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

June 26, 1950

Dear Sir, With great pleasure I received your most estimated letter dated May 12, and I regret not to have been able to answer it till now. According to your demand, I have written a letter to Prof. KELSO in order to obtain the document you have once presented to the ARCHBISHOP. I, effectively, received the answer of the said letter but, unfortunately, I did not receive the required document which is not, actually, easy to find, for the simple reason that, since you have left Palestine, several directors and secretaries have been changed or revoked. I am always very grateful to you for all what you can do to me. Thanking from all my heart, I beg to remain, Dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, Anton Kiraz

K-23

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-23

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

43

John C. Trever 461 Rose Ave. Des Plainess, Illinois

February 1, 1952

Dear Mr. Kiraz, It was kind of you to send the lovely Christmas greeting from Bethlehem with the scene of the grotto of the Nativity and the flowers made from petals of the anemones gathered there. It is a lovely card, and we shall cherish it among the things we have gathered from the Holy Land. It took almost two months for it to arrive, but I gather the mail situation is not too good between here and there now. I hope you are back in good health again, and that you have been able to restore your business to the point of making a living once again. Apparently Bethlehem has become quite a center of the Orthodox Syrians, and I trust they are finding ways to overcome the ill effects of the tragedies of 1948. Recently I have been interested in the UNESCO “gift coupon” plan for aid to the Arabs of the Near East, and I trust it is helping a good deal to provide technical training and basic skills for many Arabs to revive business within the country. My department of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. is providing the tinsmithing tools for a UNESCO school in Syria, and our whole Division plans to make a substantial contribution to several other schools in the next few weeks. Providing educational training for refugees seems to us as a very important procedure in relieving the refugees situation in the Near East. The problems relating to the Dead Sea scrolls continue to occupy a good deal of time and printing space in journals among biblical scholars, and there is still considerable disagreement about the dating of the documents. I am enclosing two little articles representing some of the work which I have done in trying to help some of the problems. My main work relating to the appearance on September 30 this year of the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible has brought to a standstill my work on the scrolls, but I hope to get back at it again one of these days, especially to finish up the assignments which have been given me. It is certainly too bad that so much damage was done to the scrolls and to the cave in which they

44

Claiming the Title to the Scrolls (1948-1952)

K-23

were found between the time they were first found and the scholars were able to begin working on them. I continue to hope for the time when I can get back to Palestine to continue some of the work I began in 1947 there, but I have no idea when that will be. With sincere best wishes and warm regards, I remain Cordially yours, John C. Trever

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

46 K-24

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

K-24

John C. Trever Morris Harvey College Charleston 4, West Va.

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Jordan September 21, 1957

Dear Mr. Kiraz, I notice by my correspondence that it has been a long time since I have heard from you, and I trust that the intervening years have made it possible for you to recover somewhat from the difficulties you encountered during the tragic situation which attended the formation of the State of Israel. I am writing at this time, primarily to find out where you are and whether or not it is possible for me to communicate with you once again. My reason is that I am tentatively contemplating a trip to the Holy Land early next year, and it is my hope that during this trip it will be possible to confer with you personally. (Trever states here his regrets that he was unable to secure a purchase of the Scrolls in the US). My plans for a stay in the Holy Land are by no means definite or complete, but as a part of them I am anxious to find out whether it would be possible to communicate directly with you once again. I have regretted many times that during my stay in the Holy Land in 1948, while working with the Syrian Orthodox Monastery on the Dead Sea Scrolls, I did not have the pleasure of making your acquaintance or of discussing the matter with you then. There is some urgency about getting information from you as soon as possible, and therefore I trust I shall hear from you at your earliest convenience. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

K-25 K-25

John C. Trever

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

47

Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan October 20, 1957

Dear Prof. John C. Trever, I thank you very much for your lovely letter dated Sept. 21, 1957 and upon looking in my files I found a previous letter of yours dated Feb. 1, 1952 and to which I regret very much for not answering I do not know how that happened? Although I was and I am still very much anxious to correspond with you. I say once more I regret very much for that and I found this opportunity to get in touch with you through this letter to inform you with regard to your trip to the Holy Land during Christmas season I shall be expecting you and you are welcome to my home at Bethlehem and I am sure we shall have nice times together. With regard to me and the family I regret to say that I have very much suffered during the last ten years, as I have left my personal home of two flours and a gardin1 which cost me 15. thousand sterling pounds also I have left my furniture and every thing I possess to the Jews and now living as a refugee at Bethlehem.2 I am at present unemployed as I was employed for the past 3 years with a charitable society and I have resigned because the salary was not sufficient and I am trying now to find better job. I shall be expecting you very much and until we meet again I wish you the best health and success. Yours very sincerely, Anton Kiraz

1 This is the garden in which the Talpioth archaeological site was found. See Chronology of Events. 2 Kiraz refers to his losses in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

48 K-26

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

K-26

John C. Trever 727 Chappell Road Charleston 4, West Va. U.S.A.

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Jordan October 12, 1957

Dear Mr. Kiraz, It was a delight to receive your letter of October 20, and to learn that you are still in Bethlehem and would welcome a visit from me. I regret to learn of your continued hardships, however, and trust that you will find new employment soon. Apparently in my last letter I did not make clear the exact timing of my plans, and thus I should set you straight at once that I do not anticipate arriving in the Holy Land before the first of March of 1958. It will be necessary for me to complete the semester’s work here, and that means almost February 1 before I will be free of my duties here. Then I will need some time to prepare for the trip, and am planning at present to take a boat to Italy, then fly from there to Beirut and Jordan, which will mean pretty close to March 1 before I can arrive there. Since one of my purposes for the trip will be to take more color pictures, an arrival in March will probably be better for that purpose anyway. I continue to wish that some kind of miracle could be wrought in the Near East to bring about a peaceful settlement of the tragic situation which has existed there for so many years. During the past several days as I have lain in bed with a case of influenza, I have thought considerably about the Near Eastern dilemma and have pondered many different angles to it. I must admit, however, that my thoughts have not brought anything constructive by way of a solution. I shall keep you posted about my plans […]. Looking forward to meeting you next spring, I remain, Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

K-27 K-27

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Palestine Hashemite Jordan

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

49

John C. Trever 727 Chappell Road Charleston 4, West Virginia U.S.A.

February 8, 1958

Dear Mr. Kiraz, It grieves me much to have to report to you that due to circumstances far beyond my control, I am having to postpone my plans for a visit to Jordan this spring.1 It is a genuine disappointment, after all the years of planning and saving I have gone through. I just wish there were some way to change these circumstances, and I would; but after all my efforts to that effect, I am having to resign myself to the inevitable. It is possible that these circumstances may not continue beyond this year, and then I shall be able to make the trip. I am sincerely hoping that will be the case. […] My brother, Winston, Pastor of the Wilshire Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California, plans to make a brief visit to Jordan in late April. With sincere best wishes and warm regards, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

1 Trever did travel to the Holy Land later that year. He was in Palestine in April and May. During this trip, Trever met with Kiraz and his family, and they struck a long-lasting friendship. There are no letters in Kiraz’s archive after February 8, 1958 and preceding the visit.

50

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

K-28

K-28

AFFIDAVIT I, Anton Kiraz, do hereby solemly swear and testify under oath that the attached document entitled, “MY EXPERIENCES RELATING TO THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS,” and initialed on each page by me, is an accurate accounting of the above events related, without any attempt on my part to cover up essential or conflicting information. This document has been composed by Dr. John C. Trever on the basis of information I have given him in good faith during repeated interviews during the period of April 26 to May 15, 1958. I have personally checked and corrected the manuscript, so that it represents an accurate record of the events related, according to the best of my knowledge, memory and understanding. Signed this 12th day of May, 1958, at the American Colony, Jersulaem, Jordan, Kiraz’s Signiture. Signature witnessed by Trever’s Signiture.

MY EXPERIENCE RELATING TO THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS by Anton Kiraz I, Anton Kiraz, presently residing in Bethlehem, Jordan, after my home in the Talpioth Quarter of Jerusalem was taken by the Jews, present here my experiences relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls as accurately as it is possible for me to state them. To the best of my knowledge this account represents an accurate statement of what happened during 1946-1949. In 1946-‘47, I had a prosperous business, operating a fleet of fourteen commercial vehicles and some taxis under the title, “Imperial Taxi Service.” I had built my own home by the old Bethlehem road at a cost of about 12,000 LP.1 It was on my home property that the accidental discovery of a first-century tomb occurred in 1945. When I reported it to the Department of Antiquities, it was excavated by the late Dr. Eliezer Sukenik(1). (1) Results of this excavation appeared in Life Magazine after their photographers took pictures of my property in connection with the excavation. Some of these pictures include me. Dr. John C. Trever 1

= $448,800 in 2002.

K-28

Anton Kiraz’s Account (1957-1958)

51

examined the prints supplied by Life and the article at my home on April 26, 1958. Mar Atahansius Yeshue Samuel, who became Metropolitan of the Assyrian1 Orthodox Community in Jerusalem and Jordan on December 22, 1946, and I were very close friends – in fact, I was one of his most intimate friends. We were frequently together for business purposes and fellowship. That I was an especially close friend of his is witnessed by my photograph album which includes many pictures of us together before and during 1947; and by the large dinner party I gave in honor of his consecration as Metropolitan in December, 1946.(2) I invited about 40 leading members of our community, together with the monks and priests of the Monastery of St. Mark’s in the Old City of Jerusalem. The party was held on January 22, 1947 at the Villa Roze Marie in the German Colony of Jerusalem. For the party I paid personally some 80 LP(3).2 (2) JCT [John C. Trever] examined these photographs in my album and was given one picture of the party in 1947 in addition to a copy of the invitation issued for the party. He was also supplied with pictures of the consecration service in Homs. (3) At that time the Palestinian pound was worth $4.05.3 There is further evidence in the fact that when tension arose in the Assyrian Community in Jerusalem in 1945 between Samuel and the people over the handling of our school property (now in Israel), I acted as intermediary to keep harmony. The situation was such that I was criticized by my friends for going to our Patriarchate in Homs to attend the consecration of Samuel as Metropolitan. I was the only Assyrian from Jerusalem who attended that occasion, as photographs of the cermony in my possession make clear. Still further evidence of my close relationship with Samuel is indicated by the fact that I kept the Dead Sea Scrolls in my home from February 617, 1948.(4) (4) See below. 1 The Syrian Orthodox Church was known in America by many as the “Assyrian” Orthodox Church until the late 1950s. Trever may have suggested to Kiraz the latter usage in order to make the document conform to the American designation of the name of the Church. Elsewhere in the documents, Kiraz uses “Syrian” Orthodox, though pictures in his archive dating to the 1940s and 1950s have captions with “Assyrian.” 2 = $3,000 in 2002. 3 =$37.40 in 2002.

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Metropolitan Samuel frequently sought my advice in matters of business. We were like brothers, trusting each other completely, as the following story of my experiences will show. I first became aware of complications in the [financial] affairs of the Metropolitan during August of 1947 […]. I […] told [the Metropolitan] that I would be taking a trip to Lebanon and Syria very shortly, and he asked to accompany me. Since the feast of St. Mary was just then coming up, he said he could not leave, but would I postpone the trip until afterwards? I agreed to the delay and we set the date to leave on September 5. I visited the Metropolitan on the evening of September 4 to complete our plans for the trip […] At 7:00 a.m. September 5(6) I was at the Jaffa Gate with my car to meet (6) Some of these dates are supported by stamps in Mr. Kiraz’ passport which JCT examined carefully on April 26, 1958. [page break] the Metropolitan as we had agreed. The Metropolitan appeared shortly with Father Bulos [Jilif]1, Father Butros [Sawme] and some other members of the Monastery. He had his suitcases, one of them containing the five Dead Sea Scrolls. […] We proceeded north, crossing the border into Lebanon at the coast road. Shortly after entering Levanon we stopped for lunch. […] We planned to go to Myroubeh the next day (September 6). […] We stayed [there] for three days. We took a number of pictures, many of which are still in my album.(7) […] On the fourth day we went to the Cedars of Lebanon returning to Tripoli for the night. The next day Samuel insisted on taking the train to Homs where (7) Seen by JCT during the interview. Each picture is marked with place and date. [page break] he was to stay with the Assyrian Patriarch [Afram I] at the Patriarchate. I drove to Homs […], stopping there for lunch; after which I drove on to Aleppo. I went to the Hotel Baron […] [and] remained there three days before returning to Homs. […] I met my friend, Mr. Darakji, in Aleppo and invited him to accompany me to Homs. In Homs I reserved two hotel rooms. We then went to the Patriarchate to meet Samuel. […] Jilif was later consecrated Metropolitan of Jerusalem in 1963. In 1966 he joined the Syrian Catholic Church. 1

K-28

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The next morning Darakji left for Aleppo, and I went to get Samuel. He did not wish to leave, however, since he wanted to remain in Homs longer. The Patriarch had given Samuel a baby gazelle, and I was asked to take it back to the monastery in Jersalem with me. I took the gazelle to Damascus […] I remained in Damascus two or three days. […] Back in Jerusalem, […] I took the gazelle to the St. Mark’s monastery and returned to my home. I estimated the total cost of the trip to me was about $600.1 […] Several more days went by before Samuel called to announce to me his return from Homs. […] The next day (about October 3, 1947), Samuel called to say that [he is in financial trouble] “Please come to see me tonight.” He spoke excitedly, so I went to the monastery at the time he requested. When I arrived he took me to his room and told me that he was very short of money. “You know those scrolls I bought,” he said, “I paid 24 LP for them(8). A Jew offered me 100 LP for them, but I must (8) At that time the 24 LP would have been worth $97.20.2 [page break] have money. What can you give me for them? I paid him 25 LP and said at the same time, “let’s be partners in whatever the scrolls may bring.” The next day Samuel called again to say, “[…] Please come over at once.” I went to the monastery immediately, and again he took me into his room, closing the door carefully behind him. […] He explained that [he was swindled for] a total of 4,500 LP.3 […] I […] gave him 50 LP4 and promised I would somehow get the money, even if I had to mortgage my home to do so. He seemed greatly relieved, and promised to cooperate. […] The next day I went to the police headquarters to my friend, Major Bishara Sayegh and told him the story of the swindle, carefully avoiding mention of the name of Metropolitan Samuel. The Major felt he could offer no suggestions […] Very shortly thereafter, […] [the swindler] returned 1,500 LP to the monastery through me, and Samuel put it in the bank immediately, having the kawas take it there for him, as he normally did. By April 28, 1948 [the swindler] paid back 280 LP. After some more months the full 4500 LP was paid back. The last amount of less than 200 LP [was] paid to me in Beirut

= $4,800 in 2002. = $780 in 2002. 3 = $147,000 in 2002. 4 = $1,600 in 2002. 1 2

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[…] during the first truce of the Arab-Jewish war. All the payments were made to me,9 and turned over to Samuel. […] 9 Mr. Kiraz used a small green book to record these payments, and JCT examined it on April 26, 1958 and again on May 3, 1958. Meanwhile the problem of the disposition of the scrolls continued. While Samuel and I were discussing, in January, 1948, how to proceed to find out the value and nature of the scrolls, I remembered my experiences with Dr. E.L. Sukenik when he excavated the first-century tomb on my property on the old Bethlehem road near Talpioth. I suggested to Samuel that I contact him to get his advice. Samuel agreed that such a contact would be very helpful. So I took the scrolls, wrapped in Arabic newspapers, with me to my home. The next day I wrote to Dr. Sukenik, and a few days later heard from him, but I do not recall whether it was by letter or by telephone. At least I do not now possess a letter from that time from him. I[n] my letter to Sukenik I mentioned only that I had some “books” which he would be interested to examine. Dr. Sukenik’s reply was an immediate desire to see these “books.” I called Dr. Sukenik to assure him I would arrange a meeting and suggested the Y.M.C.A. On February 4, 1948, Dr. Sukenik and I met, as agreed, at the Y.M.C.A. in the office of the librarian, Mr. Malak Tannourdji. Dr. Sukenik requested the privilege of taking the scrolls to his home for analysis, and I let him take three of them, the Isaiah scroll, the Habakkuk scrolls and one part of the Manual of Discipline (as these documents are fequently now called). The other two scrolls I left with Mr. Tannourdji in the drawer of his desk. On February 6 we again met in Mr. Tannourdji’s office at the “Y” and Dr. Sukenik returned the three scrolls. At the same time he made an offer of 100 LP to me for the five scrolls, but I showed no interest in such a figure. I told him that I had a partner, the Metropolitan of the Assyrian Comminity and that I would have to discuss the matter with him. We therefore made an appointment to meet again in a few days. I told Samuel what Sukenik had offered, but we agreed the scrolls should certainly be worth much more. When I met with Sukenik a few days later, again in Mr. Tannourdji’s office in the “Y”, Sukenik made an offer of 500 LP, and again I said I would have to discuss it with my partner. Then he said, “if you will urge the Metropolitan to agree to 500 LP, I will give you another 500 LP for yourself.” I reported this offer to Samuel immediately. In the meantime, however, Mr. Tannourdji suggested that we should get another appraisal of the scrolls from a reliable source to try to determine the real value of the documents. Thus I took the scrolls to my home, where they remained for the next two weeks. On February 17, Samuel called me, asking for the scrolls in order that [he] might get another

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appraisal of their value. He said that he had friends at the American School of Oriental Research [ASOR] to whom he would take them, so I delivered the scrolls to the Monastery that day. As it turned out, it was on that Thursday, February 19, when Father Butros Sowmi and his brother Ibrahim took the scrolls to the American School of Oriental Research at the invitation of Dr. John C. Trever who immediately set to work on them. Shortly thereafter I asked Samuel what arrangements he had made with the ASOR, and he showed me a receipt given him by the ASOR with two signatures on it. In the meantime, I continued to collect the money from [those] who had swindled the Metropolitan, as indicated above. During the time while Dr. Trever was working on the scrolls, Dr. Sukenik contacted me through Mr. Malak Tannourdji at the YMCA and requested the opportunity to see the scrolls again. I asked Samuel about it, but he said it would be a mistake. When Dt. Trever had completed some sets of photographic prints of the three main documents and given one set of each to Samuel[,] I suggested to Sukenik that he might be able to get the photographic prints at least for study, but when I went to ask for them from Samuel, he was opposed to this also; so I did nothing further about the matter with Sukenik. During the subsequent weeks I made many trips between Jerusalem, Transjordan and Beirut to take friends out of troubled Palestine. As a result I had little contact with the monastery and the scrolls. It was my understanding that the scrolls continued to be kept in the monastery, for Samuel made no other indication about them. I was told nothing about the activities of the ASOR, other than the mention of the photographs and the receipt. Just before leaving on May 14 to take the Rev. Malak, a close friend of Samuel’s, to Beirut, I suggested to Samuel that he keep the manuscripts in the monastery, since I would be in Beirut for some time. He made no intimation to me that he had already sent them in late March by Rev. Butros Sowmi to Beirut. For three months I could not return to Palestine because of the fighting, and it was not until the second truce that I was able to return. Since my home had been taken the the Israeli’s, I went to Bethlehem to stay with a friend, George Simon. I wan unable to go to Jersalem, for the road to Bethlehem now ranched off near Mar Saba and involved a long, hard trek by a very difficult wilderness road. This I did not see Samuel at all when I returned. My father and mother, who had remained in Jerusalem in the Assyrian monastery [of St. Mark], went to Bethlehem to George Simon’s house during the first truce.

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On October 1, 1948, Dr. Sukenik wrote me a letter [see K-1] in which he asked: “Could I get the photographs made by the American School of Oriental Research which you promised me. “Could you confirm to me by writing what you have told me several times that we have the same rights of publication as the Americans. The Bishop insists that he is the sole proprietor of the manuscripts you have shown me, contrary to my statement that you are a partner of them.”(11) (11) JCT was shown this letter on April 26, 1958 and copied out these lines. During the winter of 1948 I took my parents to our Jericho Monastery where we all stayed for about two months. On Novermber 9, 1948, I went up to Jerusalem from Jericho to see the Metropolitan and to discuss the matter of the scrolls again. I was told at the monastery that he had left that day for America. The people at the Monastery could give me no information about the scrolls. During early part of 1949 I became ill as a result of all the strain of the previous year and was forced to go to a Sanitarium in Beirut for a complete rest. I was in the Sanitarium from June 16, 1949 to August 8, 1949 at a great cost which reduced my financial status to a virtual poverty.(12) While in the Sanitarium, Canon Malak, whom I had taken with great difficulty to Beirut (together with his two sisters) via Amman on May 14, 1948, came to the Sanitarium in Le[b]anon and requested me to withdraw my calims to the scrolls. He said that Samuel would send me two new cars if I would write a waiver statement. I refused to write such a waiver of calim and told the Rev. Malak the story of my experiences with the Metropolitan and the source of my rights. Malak listened with sympathetic interest and told me that if what I had said was correct he would not blame me for being angry with the Bishop. I have not seen Malak since that day. (12) JCT examined the bills, reciepted by the Sanitarium, to determine the exact dates of his confinement. On the basis of the above informaion supplied with the greatest possible accuracy and with as musch supporting evidence as I can still provide, I make claim and hereby do testify that at least half of the returns from the said Dead Sea scrolls, consisting of the Isiah Scroll (now labeled 1QIsa, the Habakkuk Commentary (now called 1QpHab), the Manual of Discipline (now labeled 1QS), and the Genesis Apochryphon (called 1QLamech), rightfully belong to me.

K-29 K-29

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, Jordan

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John C. Trever 727 Chappell Road Charleston 4, West Virginia U.S.A. October 8, 1958

Dear Anton, The days have slipped by so rapidly since my return in June that it hardly seems possible it is now October, and there are so many things not yet accomplished from my trip to the Near EaSt. I have worked almost 10 hours a day since returning in order to try to complete the writing of articles for the Abingdon Press which have had to precede the Dead Sea Scroll book. Unfortunately, I still have a few articles to do, though 107 were turned in. Thus I have little time for extras. Despite my long silence, I can assure you that I have not forgotten you and your lovely family, the nice times we had together, and our many conversations. I vowed tonight that I would not let another day go by without at least a brief message to you. I did so appreciate the opportunity to meet you and your family, and the night spent in your home was one of the highlights of my trip. Oh how I wish I might have stayed longer in Jordan. The purpose for which I went, however, having been accomplished, I am sure that the chance will come to get back again before too many years. One of the reasons for my delay in writing has been the hope that my efforts on your behalf in New York might bear some fruit. I spent a good part of a day on my return to New York trying to impress on some of the Syrian community there the urgency of their providing you a way to get to the U.S.A. They seemed interested and assured me they would be glad to help you on arrival for a while, but I do not seem to have succeeded to get the loan I asked them to provide you. The information you provided me in the document we worked out together made a deep impression on the Priest of the West New York Church,1 who showed real sympathy and interest in you. I shared it with him in confidence, to avoid any further complications. He agreed that the best way to handle your problem was

Very Rev. Elias G. Sugar. The West New York parish moved to Paramus, NJ, in 1968. 1

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through a personal visit with the [person] concerned in this country [Samuel?]. Just how it can be worked out, is still a problem. […] Please give my warm regards to your good wife and daughter.

Cordially, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais St. Bethlehem, Jordan June 23, 1960

Dear Dr. John C. Trever, It has now been a long time that I have not written you and I feel very sorry for that sort of laziness. […] Finally with regard to your book1 which you have mentioned to me, send me a copy to read if it is published. Best regards to you and your family from my wife, my daughter and myself. Please write to me of your news which I hope are excellent. […] Very sincerely yours, Anton Kiraz

1

Probably Trever’s Cradle of Our Faith (1954).

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Mr. Anton Kiraz P.O. Box 87 Bethlehem, JORDAN

61

John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio

September 6, 1961

Dear Anton, It was good to get your letter of August 191 the other day and the helpful information it contained. […] I need your help now in connection with some problems which have arisen in the manuscript I am mow writing. Since your answer will take time and postage, I feel it only right to enclose a check for $102 to pay you for this effort. I am counting it a part of the cost of producing this book, for you have been very generous with your time in helping me, and I certainly should remunerate you for your time. I am now at the point in my book where the document you prepared for me in 1958 is very helpful.3 […] The following questions have arisen, and I wonder if you could spare the time to give me your honest appraisal of each one. If you don’t know the answer, I will not be disappointed if you say so frankly. 1. Were you personally acquainted with Khalil Eskander Shahin (Kando) and George Isaiah (is this the correct spelling?) in 1947- ‘48? 2. Did you visit the cave near Khirbet Qumrn between 1947 and 1949, as Dr. E.L. Sukenik claims? If so, do you remember when and with whom? Can you describe what you saw there, if you did go? 3. Do you know what happened to the gazelle you delivered to St. Mark’s monastery on September 26, 1947? Did it by any chance get to the farm south of Bethlehem up on the ridge overlooking the valley to the west? This is more a matter of personal curiosity, in view of the fact that I photographed a young gazelle in that farm on March 21, 1948. 4. In September of 1947 [sic, read 1948] you told Dr. Sellers that you sold used cars as well as operating some taxis. To me you said you “operated commercial vehicles.” Can you clarify this for me? 5. Did you supply taxi service to the St. Mark’s Monastery people? Do you know whether it was one of your taxis which Sowmy used several times There is no record of this letter in the archives. = $60 in 2002. 3 See K-28. 1 2

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for me and sent to the American School to get me twice? Was this a service you rendered, or did they pay for each ride? 6. Did you take Samuel to Homs for the consecration service on Dec. 22, 1946 or did he get there some other way? I seem to remember your having answered this question when I visited you, but I want to be sure. 7. Did you know Dawood Mussallam of Bethlehem who later went to So. America? Was he a Muslim dealer? 8. You told Dr. Sellers in 1948 that the Ta’amireh Bedouins took the scrolls first to the Bethlehem mosque. Is this where they met a “sheikh,” who sent them to Kando? Do you know who he was? His name? 9. Did you know Feidi Salahi from whom Dr. Sukenik bought his scrolls in Bethlehem? Could his name also be Faidi al-Alami, as Najib Khouri claims? Do you have any idea how he secured the scrolls he sold to Sukenik? 10. Did you know the Jewish merchant by the name of Sassun whom Samuel says visited St. Mark’s to try to buy the scrolls? Could he be the same Jew who offered the Bedouins 100poundP near Jaffa Gate that day when Bulos sent George Isaiah and the Bedouins away from the monastery? 11. Do you recall when you first heard about the scrolls purchased by Samuel? I failed to get that into the document we worked out. There, the story begins just before September 5, 1947, but it implies you knew about the scrolls before than. 12. In 1948 you told Dr. Sellers that you were called to the St. Mark’s Monastery in July of 1947 to assist with the purchase of the scrolls, but to me you gave a story which involves you becoming a partner to the scrolls in early October, 1947. I am presuming that the story you told Dr. Sellers was given to avoid revealing the other [financial matter]. Am I right in this interpretation? 13. Could you contact the Bethlehem Syrian Orthodox priest, or one of the priests in Jerusalem and find out if they know exactly when the month Nisan and Tammuz fell in relation to April and July of 1947? How many days difference is there or do the months fall the same? Do they differ each year? Can they determine when Holy Week was in 1947? I hesitate to impose upon you this way, but I feel you are the only one I can trust to get me the correct information. I realize, of course, that some of it may not be known to you or have escaped you. Even a few answers will be helpful, however.

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Since I must complete my book by the end of this month,1 I sincerely hope you can find time to answer as many of these as possible very soon. With the sincere hope that your summer has been prosperous, and with best wishes to your good wife and little ones, I remain,

Most cordially yours, John C. Trever

1

The Untold Story was not published until 1965.

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John C. Trever

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Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan September 15, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, Thank you so much for your letter dated Sept. 6, 1961 which I received before yesterday. […] I also thank you for the $101 which you sent enclosed in your letter to cover certain expenses, but I could have managed it for your sake. As for the 13 questions which you asked in your letter, I shall do my utmost to answer, although some of them date back to almost 15 years, a very long period, and after the Palestine catastrophe which exhausted all our memory. The only thing good left in me is the fact that I cannot tell a lie. If I say something, you must be 100% sure that it is all true. Bearing this reality in mind, I shall try to give the answers to your questions, one by one, hoping to render by this a small service in taken [read: token] of appreciation to all you have done for me. A.1 I got to know Khalil Eskandar Shahin personally in 1948, after I returned from Lebanon as a Palestine refugee around the month of Sept., but George Isiah (pronounced Ishaia) I knew before, as he served in St. Mark’s monestry. A.2 I did not visit the cave near Khirbot Qumran, although I meant to go and discover other caves near the place with George Isiah in Dec. 1948, when we were refugees in our [Syrian Orthodox] convent [of St. John] near Jordan river, the circumstances then were not convenient to make such a trip. I do not remember that I have told Dr. Sukenik that I did go, but may be I said that I might go. A.3 As for the gazelle, as I remember had died approximately after 2 weeks, to be sure I asked this morning Father Bulos he said the same. A.4 In Sept. 1947, I was not acquainted with Dr. Sellers, you might be wrong in the date, it could be 1948. I said to Dr. Sellers as well as to you that I sold used cars and operated a taxi office which is mentioned in the first page of my affidavit, paragraph 2. Enclosed you will find an old card with the name “Imperial Taxi Service”. I was at the first time known by Anton David (David is my grandfather’s name) later I discovered from my

1

= $60 in 2002.

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father that our family name is “Kiraz”1 which I added to my name. Free of charge.2 A.5 I often sent a taxi of mine to the Convent, whenever they asked for it, but I cannot ascertain that the taxi which Sowmi sent to get you from the American School twice was one of my taxis. A.6 Bishop Samuel went to Homs approximately a month before his consecration on Dec. 22, 1946. He himself did not know whether he would be consecrated as a bishop or not, as he arrived in Homs. He sent me a cable, however, to invite me to attend his consecration. I was the only one from Jerusalem who attended the service of the consecration, for he was not on good terms with the community at that time […] A.7 Dawood Mussallam is not a Muslim but a Greek Orthodox Christian who was a dealer in the Dead Sea Stone (Black stone made into ashtrays and other articles) known as the stone of Nebi Musa (Prophet Moses stone). Dawood left for South America to his brother in Chile, where he died 2 years ago. A.8 In 1947, there was a sheikh in the mosque of Omar in Bethlehem named Sheikh Abdulrahman El Malki who died; it must be that he sent the Taamreh to Kando. A.9 I knew Feidi Salahi very well and often had a talk with him. Faidi al-Alami of Najib Khoury is the same person, but his correct name is Salahi. How he secured the scrolls which he sold to Dr. Sukenik is quite clear from the fact that he was a dealer of antiquities all his life, and he had bought the scrolls from the Taamreh Bedwins at a cheap price and sold them with profit to Sukenik whom he knew very well as an antiquity dealer. A.10 Bishop Samuel related to me that Sasoon paid LP. 100 for the scrolls, but I did not know Sasoon, himself who dealt in antiquities in Jerusalem according to Bishop Samuel. Whether he was the same Jew who was trying to buy the scrolls from the Bedwins I do not know, but if we analyse it, we come to the conclusion that when Sasoon failed in purchasing 1 There is an anecdote behind the name ‘Kiraz’. When Anton was applying for Palestinian passports for his parents (Artin and Lousazine), he discovered in their Ottoman documents the name ‘Kiraz.’ He went to his father and asked him, “What is this ‘Kiraz’?” Artin answered, “It is our family name.” Anton asked, “Why then do we use ‘David’ instead?” Artin replied, “I don’t know. We were refugees in this country and did not know Arabic. When they asked us ‘Who are you?’, we answered ‘we are David’s children.’ ” (Artin’s father was named David.) 2 “Free of charge” is an allusion to Kiraz’s acquaintance with British officials who rendered favors to him, through which he helped many Syrian Orthodox refugees and immigrants from Lebanon and elsewhere to get residence permits.

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the scrolls from the Bedwins, he came to, buy them from Samuel in St. Mark’s. A.11 I knew about the scrolls in August 1947, that is about a month before Sept. 5. A.12 I am sure that I never said to Dr. Sellers that I was called to the Monastery to assist in purchasing the scrolls, but I remember that I told him that I was the owner or a partner in them. May be that I avoided revealing [the financial affair], but not necessarily on this occasion. It may be that I said to Dr. Sellers that I was called to purchase the scrolls from the bishop without revealing reasons for doing so […]. In this respect your interpretation is right. A.13 There is a difference of 13 days between the Eastern and the Western Calender, the Eastern being 13 day backward. As an example, the Western Church celebrates Christmas on Dec. 25, whereas the Eastern Church celebrates it on January 6. Nisan and Tammuz are the Arabic names for April and July respectively. The holy week in 1947 started, according to the Western Church, on Monday, March 31st., and, according to the Eastern Church, it started Monday, April 7, 1947. This means that Easter in 1947 fell, according to the Western calender, on April 6, and, according to the Eastern calendar on April 13, 1947. Hoping to have rendered some service to you, I close with best wishes and thanks Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

N.B. – Excuse me for all the mistakes happened in this letter, the reason was my old Typewriter, and I was not free on theese mistakes.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio

September 23, 1961

Dear Anton, Your letter of September 71 crossed with mine to Mr. Docmac, but thanks. […] I am extremely grateful to you for your letter of September 15 with the answers to my many questions. You have been very helpful in this. It lends greater support to my writing. In view of the delicate nature of a number of points which I feel must be included in my book, I need every bit of supporting evidence possible. I shall be taking considerable risk in the publication, but I believe it will be for the ultimate benefit of scholarship. There will doubtless be some unfavorable repercussions at first, and for these I must be adequately prepared. Several other questions have arisen since I wrote, so I hope you won’t mind a few more: 1. When you say that George Isaiah “served in St. Mark’s Monastery” what does this imply? What was the nature of his services to the monastery? When did he serve, and for how long, approximately? If you have the information about this, it would be extremely helpful. 2. Do you have any idea where the brother of Dawood Mussallam now is, since Dawood’s death? Is he still in Chile? Do you know anyone who knows his address? If I can get his address, it might help clear up another mystery which still exists. 3. I regret that I failed to discuss the next question with you in 1958, for I hesitate to put it in writing. In one of your letters to Samuel during 1949 you mention having given him an I.O.U. for a sizable sum and that the note was dated October 10, 1947. My problem is how to equate that note with the information you gave me in 1958. Could you supply me with a statement regarding the circumstances that prompted your borrowing the money at that time? I assure you that anything you say will be held in strictest confidence. This is needed by me to stand as supporting evidence for your statement. If Samuel uses that note as evidence to disprove your 1

There is no record of this letter in Kiraz’s archive.

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case, as he attempted to do once before, I must have a statement from you to support any rebuttal that I might have to make. We should have included this in your affidavit, I now realize. Recent attempts to contact A. Y. Samuel have met with silence, and I presume it is because of what I wrote in p. 138 of the article I sent you some time ago. […] Do you know if he published a book about his life in Arabic, as some have said he did?1 Perhaps it did not get published, however. He wrote the manuscript, I know. He also had an English translation made […] In my question #4, it was my error to use the date “1947”. I meant 1948, as you presumed. I found your answer to #11 just after I mailed my letter to you. I do make mistakes, this business is so complicated. I caught a bad one yesterday as I was sending a chapter to be typed. Thanks again for all your help, and with cordial best wishes to your whole family from all of us, Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

Samuel published an Arabic version of his Treasure of Qumran in 1985 under the title ‫ ﻤﺩﺍﺭﺝ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺕ‬:‫ﻜﻨﻭﺯ ﻗﻤﺭﺍﻥ‬. 1

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN October 4, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, I received your last letter of September 23, two days ago, and I thank you for it. […] I am glad that my answers to your questions have been helpful to you, and as long as they support your writing, I shall be ever willing to serve you anything I can that may be of any help and support. In this connection, I have a friend who knows the persons themselves who first discovered the scrolls. This friend promised to bring them to me and make them relate the whole story of the discovery, and all about it until the date when Samuel bought them. These persons are cross with Kando and Canawati, because they have exploited them. If you think that it would be of interest to register their voices when relating the story (of course in Arabic) I am prepared to do so, and we will send the English translation with the tape. They will be willing, I am sure, in case they make new discoveries in the future, to deal with you, for they were not pleased with Kando or Canawati. Answer 1. George Isaiah was from Syria who came to Palestine about 1932-1934, late in 1947 he came to St. Mark’s Monastery and asked for a room and because he was very poor he was given a very small room just near the gate in the monastery. He was granted lodge and board in return for certain services in the monastery such as keeping the gate while he was in, or sending and bringing letters and other such services wherever he was needed. You can call him gatekeeper and messenger. He remained in the monastery until 1953 for sure(?) he rent a room near the monastery for 2 or 3 years; I mean until he left to the United States. […] When Samuel came to Homs at the consecration of our late Patriarch few years ago. The brother of Isaiah from Syria and a close friend to Isaiah from Jerusalem, went to Homs to see Samuel, they asked Samuel, but Samuel’s answer was don’t ask me about Isaiah and don’t mention his name I don’t know anything about him. So here there are many different news about Isaiah, some say he was killed by his American black wife and some say he was killed by the family of his wife and others say that he left with his wife to another country whos the parents of his wife and other news that the American Government is

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fetching for him. No one here in Jordan and Syria knows anything about Isaiah or about his address.1 Answer 2. The address of Dawood’s brother is (Señor Jacobo Musalem, Casilla 4103, Santiago, Chile, S.A.), word of Señor is Mr., Casilla word is P.O.B. But this man is very old and gets epileptic fits and speaks Spanish only. When Dawood, his brother, went to Chile, he died before learning Spanish. So I don’t think Jacob would be aware of the story. I am sending you therefore, another address which is his cousins, not Jacob’s son, but another brother’ son whose father is dead:- (Saba Musalem, Casilla 2763, Santiago, Chile, S.A.) but I think the third address will be of more help to you than the first two. It is the address of Dawood’s wife herself, who, after her husband’s death, she migrated to her brothers in Dominican Republic. It is as follows:- (Senora Victoria D. Musalem, Appartado 25, San Juan De la Maguana, Republica Dominicano). Answer 3. You notice that [my return] from Lebanon was on 19.9.47, and Bishop Samuel’s was after this date, and the I.O.U. note was dated 10.10.47. I am sending to you attached herewith a copy of an original letter in Arabic from me to the Bishop dated 8.6.1994, with a literal English translation. You will notice that the way I wrote to him was not sufficiently respectful. I shall explain, however, certain phrases which occurred in the letter to make the matter clearer to you. You notice that the note of 540 Palestinian Pounds which I signed to the Bishop was not a real I.O.U. note. I did it simply as a help for him at the time, as he used my note to borrow the same amount i.e. 500 less interest viz. 500 + 40 interest. I suggested that he borrows from the bank, but he said the bank charges 10% interest, while he usualy borrowed loans from Greek monks for 4% interest to St. Mark’s convent. The truth of this appears from my letter when I tell him to send me 850 Palestinian Pounds without telling him to deduct the amount of 540 Palestinian Pounds, because I never owed him this amount in fact. I did not ask him for any amount before he left for America, as I took him as a friend, even as a brother, and wanted to help him just to save him from being bankrupt after [he was swindled], I never thought of asking any money from the Bishop, before he broke his friendship with me when he denied my legal rights [to the scrolls]. This was a personal debt, not a debt for the monastery and so he used my signature on the note […]. 1 On September 23, 1995, during a visit to Lebanon, I met a relative of Isaiah at the diwan of H. E. Mor Timothy George Saliba, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon. This relative of Isaiah, whose name I forgot to record, told me then that Isaiah is still alive and resides in South America.

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Before I signed the promisory note of 540 Palestinian Pounds, I even lent him a good amount of money, besides the costs of the scrolls, to spend on the food of the monks for sometime until he was fixed. (Kiraz passionately argues here that he had received no favors from Samuel. On the contrary, he claims that he helped Samuel in many occasions: he helped him in the financial affair, taught him how to drive, took him on trips all over Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, held parties in his honor, and acted as “a Bernadotte and a Hammerskjold” when there was a rift between Samuel and the community over the lease of the school.) Regarding to book publication about his life, there is no such news in Jordan at all specially I inquired from father Bulos and from quite enough from members of the community […]. With cordial greetings to all your family from my family I remain Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem, JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio

October 11, 1961

Dear Anton, Your letter of October 4 arrived today, and I am most pleased to have your full and helpful answers to the questions I sent. These statements have been particularly helpful, and I want to thank you for the care you gave to preparing them. Your suggestion about the tape recording of an interview with the Ta’amireh Bedouins is a wonderful idea. It would be most valuable, if it could be obtained. It would need to be prepared carefully, of course, to be sure the right questions were asked to provide a clear approach to their answers. Are both Muhammed adh-Dhib and Ahmad Muhammad for such an interview, do you think? They were the first two to enter the cave in 1947. There was a third one who was with them in July when they took the scrolls to Jerusalem and were turned away by Father Bulos, and one report has it that he was an uncle of their’s, but I am not certain about this. If you were to work out such arrangement, I would want to supply you with a list of questions to form the basis of the interview. The phrasing of them in Arabic, of course, you would need to work out in the light of your knowledge of their dialect of Arabic, but certain key questions would need to be asked. Let me know if and when you think such an interview could be arranged, and I will plan the questions for you to use and send them immediately. I assume it will take some time to work out the time for the interview anyway. Any expenses involved, I will be glad to forward to you. Your answers again raise a few more questions, for I hope your patience is still holding out: 1) On several occasions in March of 1948 I was met by the St. Mark’s Monastery Kawas, as they called him. He was dressed in a khaki (olive green) uniform like some policemen wore. He spoke only Arabic, so I did not converse with him beyond my few words of greeting and farewells. Could this have been George Isaiah? I have seen a picture of George, and he looks a little like the kawas I vaguely remember. I believe the word

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kawas means “guard” does it not? On one occasion there were two such guards sent to meet Brownlee and me at the New Gate, but I am vague about it. The other one might have been Butrous Sowmy. 2) Where is Mayroubeh in Lebanon? I am unable to find it on any of my maps. Is it north of Tripoli? Can you place it in relation to some larger center? 3) According to your affidavit I figured the date of your return to Jerusalem as September 21, 1947. I failed to put the date in, but I find it among the note I made in connection with our interviews. I recall we checked in your passport at the time. In your letter just received you give the date as September 19, 1947. It is a minor point, but since I mention this date in my book, I do want to be sure it is right. Could you check it again? 4) In your affidavit you mention a large payment as having been made by [the swindler]. Does your little green book give the date on which this payment was made? I have estimated this to have been about the same time as your note given to Samuel and need to get it straight. 5) Is major Bishara Sayegh still living? If so, would it be possible to get a statement from him supporting the fact that you did discuss the problem you outline with him. A letter from him, or signed statement would be of tremendous value as defensive evidence. His signature would need to be witnessed. 6) Do you know a Nasra who was a close friend of Mr. Arthur Flanz? I understand that the manuscript he prepared and tried to get me to help him publish was left in her hands when he went to France. The last I heard of him was in July, 1958, when he wrote me a very harsh and condemnatory letter. He may be dead by now […]. I must stop now, for I have already said too much. I hope this will not be too much of an inconvenience to you. […] With cordial best wishes to you, your good wife and two little ones. Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN November 1, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, Thank you for your last letter dated October 11, 1961. Which I received a week ago. I could not send a reply sooner for I had to find out the correct answers to your questions. As for a tape recording of an interview with the Ta’amreh Bedwins who first discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls I have made the necessary arrangements with them. They are available, and they are prepared to come and answer our questions whenever we send after them. I am awaiting your questions which you would like to set for such an interview. The answers to your questions: (1) I am sending enclosed herewith a photo taken in 1948 or 1949 in St. Mark’s Monastery in Jerusalem, where you can see the two Kawases (footmen) on both sides. Their official dress is generally dark blue and not khaki George Isiah has G.I. over his head, the one standing just beside the Kawas. You can examine his face through a lens. But Butros Sawmy was a monk and never wore khaki clothes. You may mean Ibrahim Sawmy, his brother, who used to work in the Customs at Allemby Bridge. Butros was killed on May 16, 1948 by a shell which fell in the monastery. The two men who were sent to meet you probably at the New Gate, might have been George Isiah and Ibrahim Sawmy or Abdallah Safar, the old Kawas, or other persons who wore civilian khaki clothes at that time. (2) I am sending a sketch map of Lebanon with some villages around Meirouba which identifies its location. In case you need a detailed map of Lebanon, you may get one at the Lebanese Consulate, and if you do not get it, let me know, and I will send you one. 3) My entry to Lebanon is stated in my passport as September 5, 1947 and my return from Lebanon was September 19, 1947. The date September 21, 1947 is the validity date stamped on the passport by the Immigration Department of Lebanon which was stamped on Sept. 6, 1947. (4) In my green book there is no date for the payments […] but it could have been before or after the time I wrote the note to Samuel. (5) Major Bishara Sayegh left for Lebanon in 1948, and I met him last in Beirut on the street in 1949. His wife is Lebanese. I do not know where he is now, but if this is of importance to you, I have to go to Lebanon and

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make enquires myself for all my friends I know there do not know the man. I can easily find him if he still lives. He was not old in 1948, and he could be still alive. (6) I know Nassra the close friend of Mr. Arthur Flanz who lived in Christ Church compound in Jerusalem and I know Flanz himself. Nassra reported to me when I visited her last Friday that a few years ago he left Jerusalem for three months to meet his son who had written to him inviting him to come and see him for his son had 3 months leave. When he left he took only the necessary clothes for such a short journey. For sure he took no manuscripts with him. Mr. Flanz locked his room and took the key with him leaving all his things behind. During his absence the Christ Church warden asked Nassra to evacuate Mr. Flanz’ room for they were in need of it. Nassra had no key, so she wrote to Flanz who hesitated to send the key, but Christ Church insisted, and finally Flanz had to send back the key of his room to Nassra by post, asking her to hire another room outside the Christ Church and move all his effects into it. Nassra did according to his request, but she found the room upside-down and there were several papers and manuscripts torn and old which she burnt out with certain old books, a barrel and 2 big boxes. She gave me an oath to the truth of her statement. And I believe it is true. So you can rest assured that the manuscripts you mentioned in your letter must have been burnt with the other old paper. Mr. Flanz I know was an old man […] and typed most time of the day. His books which I examined in Nassra’s room about a hundred books were mostly religious, historical and archaeological. […] The last time she received a post card from him was October 5, 1959 from (Hospital l’Escasine Alpes Maritines, France). After that date she wrote two letters to him, but they were returned to her, and I saw them. Now Nassra does not know anything about him or about his son. I found with Nassra some envelopes bearing this address of (G. H. Flanz, 95 Shelley Ave. Yonkers, N.Y.). Now I take the liberty to ask your cooperation in finding a trustful merchant with whom I can make some dealings in certain hand-made articles made here of silver, mother-of-pearl, olive wood, very delicate and beautifully made and comparatively moderate in prices. I am enclosing three photos of such articles. You know my business is not so successful here, and I would like to do some additional work to help support a growing family of mine. I know this is not your line, but you may know some of your many friends who might be interested to carry out such a business. I can send a larger catalogue if requested and desired.

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Hoping to hear from you soon, I thank you and send the greetings of my family to you and yours, Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

November 8, 1961

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letter just received this morning. Once again your answers to my questions are most helpful. I appreciate the picture you sent me from the Monastery. This is especially helpful. I immediately recognized the kawas Abdallah Safer, and this cleared up the problem. The other kawas was not there at the time I dealt with the Monastery. I am somewhat puzzled by the person in the center of the picture holding the staff and having on the icon. Is he a new Metropolitan for Jerusalem? Is he Bulos Gelf? He does not look like the Bulos I met in 1948. I recognized Father Yusef immediately also, but the other grey-bearded priest seems new to me (the one to the right of center). Is the Father Bulos who turned away the bedouins in July, 1947, this same Bulos? If so, I will change my description of him in my book! If the present head of the Monastery is the former Father Bulos, could you check two items with him? 1) About how many scrolls does he recall having seen when the Bedouins first came to the Monastery with Ishaya on July 5, 1947? Could he describe what he saw? I know this is an awful long time ago, so I won’t be disappointed if his memory of the situation has faded. 2) Would you check also on his recollection regarding the date when the Metropolitan Samuel left the Monastery finally. From my records I find that Samuel was away from the Monastery on several occasions during the fall of 1948 (during the second truce), and thus it would be helpful to learn from the Monastery when he finally left to come to America. In your affidavit, you said that you went to the Monastery on November 9,1948 and were told that that day Samuel had left for America. Further confirmation of that day would be helpful for an important point in my book, if such confirmation can be established. What was it that helped you remember that particular day? It is quite possible that the monastery has something in writing about such a matter. From your evidence, it is clear that I did not meet Shayya in connection with any of my monastery visits. If he was there, apparently he

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did not show himself any time I visited. Are you certain that he was staying at the monastery as early as the end of 1947? Since you say you were with him at Jericho (Jordan River) Monastery for two months late in 1948, it seems you must have your dates right. If so, this is very significant evidence. Thanks for the sketch map of Lebanon. It is most helpful. My map obviously does not have the small places on it. I shall get a better map from the Lebanese consulate as you suggest, but your takes care of my immediate needs. Thanks also for straightening me out on your return date to Jerusalem in the fall of 1947. I shall correct my manuscript. It would be a smart move on your part to get a statement of confirmation from Major Bishara Sayegh (signed and notarized, or validated) about your interview with him in 1947. Such a statement might be a very valuable piece of evidence in case of need for the future. I would appreciate a copy, if and when you get it. I wouldn’t make a special trip for the purpose but keep it in mind as a worthwhile project sometime when you are in Lebanon. […] What you say about Nassra, the friend of Flanz, is a great relief. I gather that Flanz died in the hospital you mention. I received a […] letter from him from the same place in July of 1958. […] As for the silver object, I hope I can do something about this to help your projects. I distributed quite a few things for Najib Khouri several years ago, but since moving here, I have not had the same contacts. Perhaps I can find some. Our high duties in this country is one of the problems.

Since you will have expenses in connection with the tape recording, I am sending herewith $13.1 You probably will need to give the bedouins some bachshish (you know best how much would be necessary), as well as other costs. At least this will help on it. Let me know what the costs are, and I will send you the balance later. […] Thank you again for your fine help, and we all send our best wishes to your family and yourself.

Cordially yours, John C. Trever

P.S. I have agreed to conduct a Maupin Tour to the Holy Land, leaving New York June 28, 1962, and am scheduled to be in Jerusalem July 11-15. I will have to take the tour through to Athens, but after July 21, I plan to return to Jordan for a few weeks. It is best not to say anything about

1

= $78 in 2002.

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my coming, for I might have a problem about getting back after I leave the tour, otherwise. […]

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K-38 Enclosure to K-37. INTERVIEW WITH TA’ AMIRAH BEDOUINS (Note: In these questions I assume you will be interviewing Mohammad edh-Dhib and Ahmad Mohammad.) Introduction: Please be sure to emphasize to them that our purpose in this interview is to gain information for scholars, and that we approach them as friends. Most important is that whatever is said be absolutely true. Emphasize that it is better to say “I do not remember” than to make up anything. Emphasize also that no harm can come to him or his tribe from this interview. It is a helpful service for which we are most grateful. Tell them that I shall hope to thank them personally when I visit Jordan next summer. The questions should be asked in the following order: 1. How old are you (Mohammad edh-Dhib)? 2. About how old were you when you happened upon the cave in which you found some ancient manuscripts? 3. Do you consider the area around ‘Ain Fashkha by the Dead Sea a part of Ta ‘amirah territory? 4. Do the Sawahira and Ibn ‘Ubeid Bedouins also take their flocks to that same territory? 5. Does your tribe have a burial ground at Hajar el-‘Asbah, north of ‘Ain Fashkha? 6. Does your tribe frequently take its flocks down near ‘Ain Fashkha? 7. Is there any special time of the year when you take your flocks down to ‘Ain Fashkha? 8. Do you take your flocks down there frequently? 9. Why do you take your flocks down to ‘Ain Fashkha? 10. Do you recall when the British left Palestine and the Arab-Jewish war that followed? 11. About how long before the British left Palestine did you happen upon the cave near ‘Ain Fashkha? 12. Were you looking for a goat when you climbed up to where the cave was? 13. Did you see the goat start up the cliff and chase after it, or did you miss the goat from your flock and think it might have gone up there? 14. About where were your flocks at the time; down near the Dead Sea, north or south of ‘Ain Fashkha or up on the plateau near Khirbet Qumran?

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15. What time of year was it when you first found the cave—early spring, late spring, or early summer? 16. Were you resting when you first saw the opening to the cave, or was it while you were climbing after the goat? 17. Was the opening to the cave at your eye level as you stood in front of it, or was it higher or lower than eye level? 18. Were you able to enter the cave immediately, or did you just look into it at first when you were alone? 19. When you looked in, could you see anything inside? 20. Did the cave have one opening (entrance) to it or two? 21. Is Jum’a Mohammad your cousin? 22. Did you go down to where your flocks were and get Jum’a Mohammad before entering the cave? 23. Did Jum’a enter the cave with you, or did he help you to enter it, or did you help him to enter? 24. What did you see when you first entered the cave? 25. Did the large jars you saw have covers on the top of each, and was there anything between the cover and the jar opening—like cloth? 26. Were there manuscripts rolled in cloth in more than one jar? If so, about how many jars contained manuscripts? 27. Did the first jar in which you found manuscripts have a cover on top? 28. Was the cover sealed down in any way with mud or cloth? 29. Was the jar broken at all when you first saw it? 30. Were any of the manuscripts inside the jar not wrapped in cloth? 31. Were any scrolls not inside jars but seen on the floor of the cave? 32. Were any scrolls partly visible through the dirt on the floor of the cave? 33. Did you pick up some scrolls and fragments from outside jars? 34. Did you carry the scrolls out of the cave yourself, or did you hand them to Jum’a Mohammad through the cave opening? 35. About how many scrolls did you find on that visit to the cave, and did take them all with you when you left? 36. Did you take some jars with you at that time, too? If so, how many? 37. Did you go back to the cave again after the first visit? 38. Did you see anything else in the cave? 39. While you had the manuscripts in your camp, did any of them break apart? If so, how many broke and in how many pieces? 40. What did you do with the scrolls after you found them?

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41. Did you go back to the cave later to get some more scrolls or fragments? 42. About how long was it before you took the scrolls to Bethlehem? 43. Who went with you to Bethlehem to take the scrolls to sell? Was it Jum’a and his father, or another uncle of yours? 44. To whom did you first go in Bethlehem to discuss the sale of the scrolls? 45. Did you take all the scrolls with you on that first visit with them to Bethlehem? 46. Did you take the scrolls to the Sheikh at the Bethlehem Mosque? If so, do you recall what he said that you should do with them? 47. Did you then go to Kando (Khalil Eskander Shahin), the cobbler near Manger Square? 48. Did you show the scrolls to any other Bethlehem merchant? 49. Did you leave the scrolls with Kando, -- all of them or part of them? 50. Did you take the scrolls back to your home after this first attempt to sell them in Bethlehem? 51. Did you go with Kando (or a friend of his) to Jerusalem to visit the Deir Mar Marcos? If so, how many of you went? 52. Were you turned away from the Monastery at that time and not allowed to see the Metropolitan as you had been told to do? 53. Was George Isaiah (Shayya) with you at that time? 54. When you left the monastery, did you offer the scrolls to a Jewish merchant near the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem? 55. How much did the Jewish merchant offer you for the scrolls? 56. Did Shayya persuade you to take the scrolls back to Bethlehem? 57. Did you all go back to Kando’s shop then, or did only some of you go there? 58. Did you divide the scrolls you had among your friends at that time, before that time, or later? 59. Did you sell some of the scrolls to Kando then? or later? Or did you sell all you had to him? 60. Or, did you go back to Jerusalem a week later with Kando (or Shayya) and sell the scrolls directly to Metropolitan Samuel at Deir Mar Marcos? [61]. Did you receive the money for the scrolls sold to Metropolitan Samuel from Kando or from Samuel, himself? [62]. Did you, or others of your tribe meet a Bethlehem merchant by the name of Feidi Salahi?

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[63]. Did you (or your friends) sell some manuscripts to this merchant about the same time? Or was it later? How much later, if so? THANKS A MILLION FOR YOUR HELP.

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN November 27, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, I acknowledge receipt of your long letter dated November 8th, 1961 and the 63 questions attached to it. Very glad to say that we succeeded in recording the answers of both Muhammad Ed-Deeb and Jum’a Muhammad, his cousin (wrongly mentioned Ahmad Muhammad in your letter). This is an urgent letter with no details of any kind, but another detailed letter will soon follow. Regarding the tape on which the answers of your questions have been recorded, when I went to the Post Office to air-mail it for you, the officer in charge told me that he could not allow mailing it, before it is censored by the military authorities. So I hesitated to send it there for censor, fearing certain unexpected hindrances should arise which might lead to the confiscation of the tape for some reason or other. Therefore I thought to visit the American Consul in Jerusalem tomorrow and ask him to help me sending the tape to you through the Consulate. I have strong hopes that the Consul, after identifying myself by showing him the affidavit I had made to the American Consul in 1958 in your presence and the questions which you sent to me, will not hesitate to assist in this matter. Should any unexpected difficulty arise, I shall soon let you know that you may advise me what to do. The preparations for realizing the recording of the requested information given by the actual discoverers of the Dead Sea Scrolls were not as easy as we had expected. In my next letter I shall explain to you the difficulties which we met to attain what we wanted. To facilitate things I incurred certain expenses. May I just ask you to send me as an urgent need the sum of $50.1 I cannot but disclose to you my great happiness at the success we met in getting the utter truth of the findings of the scrolls. You will notice that, when you hear the tape recording immediately [after] you receive the tape. With best regards, Yours very sincerely, Anton Kiraz

1

= $300 in 2002.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem November 29, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, I sent you a letter on 27.1.61 an urgent letter, this is another urgent letter, to let you know that I air-mailed the tape to you this morning, but a detailed letter soon you will receive from me about a complete story about the Dead sea scrolls, which you will find many other things may be you did not know before, and I am sure that, it will be very interest to you, and in my opinion it is a true story, and this story is given by Mohd. Ed-Deeb and his cousin Jum’a Mohd. This long detailed letter I am going to start on it tonight. I am sure it takes me few days to finish it and send it to you with the other things you asked in your letter dated 8th Nov. 1961. Please take care to the tape how to use it on the recorder, don’t do wrong things and rub it instead of hearing the answers registered, I am sorry to tell this, but if you have been in my place you said the same to me, because I worked very hard with the Bedouins to get it. In my next letter I will tell you the way I sent the tape to you. I end my letter this to you with congratulation about succeeding in our work. I and my wife will send you and your wife and to the rest of the family our best regards, and ask the Lord to help you in your work. Yours very sincerely, Anton Kiraz

P.S. The tape starts with introduction by me. Then Mr. Doemae asks the questions in English and I will translate to Arabic, then the Bedouins answer(s) in Arabic and Mr. Docmac translates the answers into English.1 P.P.S. The tape now as it is, is the end, you role it to another roler as it is then will be the beginning. I am sure you know all this without explains, but just to make sure.

1 The technical aspects of the recording were taken care of by Mr. Fu’ād ‛Aṭwān of Bethlehem, who owned a store of appliances. The machine may have been rented from him. (Source: Nijmeh Kiraz)

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

December 2, 1961

Dear Anton, Your letter of November 27 arrived yesterday morning, just as I was leaving for a lecture in Lansing, Michigan. It provided me a perfect introduction to my lecture, in view of the circumstances that brought it about. Needless to say, however, I was taken somewhat aback by the fact that you need $501 as a result of the tape recording. I hope the Bedouins have not taken advantage of us. This is pretty high fee. Since we are in this together, however, and I do not want to be anything out, I am enclosing the check and sending it immediately. Prudence would have suggested waiting to get more details about what happened, but for fear you would be put in an embarrassing position, I will not listen to prudence! I was sorry to learn that you met with difficulties in trying to send the tape to me. I guess we might have expected that, however. You certainly did the right thing in making the decision you did. I will be interested in the outcome of your plan of procedure, but I am not too hopeful, knowing our American officials. Another method would be to send me a summary of the interview in English and hold the tape for me to handle when I am there next summer. Or, perhaps, a transcription could be written out, if arrangements were not too difficult to make. It is wonderful that you were able to carry out this interview so quickly, and I am glad to know that the parties were so cooperative. This should be very valuable information against which to check what I have written in my book, assuming, of course, that the Bedouin memory is reliable. I hope I can meet these Bedouins next summer and discuss the matter further informally. I would like very much to build up their confidence. I notice that you give Mohammad’s cousin’s name as Jum’a. It is strange that this has never been noticed before by those who have interviewed him. Could you write his name in Arabic script for me to be sure of the spelling. (I am following a scholarly system of spelling Arabic 1

= $300 in 2002.

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words and names.) G.L. Harding, in his official publication gives his name as Ahmed. How well do you know Kando (Khalil Eskander Shahin)? Do you think you could find out from him the truth about the story which Allegro has published about how he (Kando) buried a number of fragments in his back yard and later dug them up to find that they had disintegrated. I believe Allegro is wrong in placing this incident in 1947, but I wonder if it occurred in 1948, about December, or perhaps January, 1949. Also I would like to know which cave those scrolls came from. I am assuming these were some of the materials secured by the Syrians (Shayya and Kando) in November, 1948, from Cave I, and that they were hidden as a result of Yusef Saad and G.L. Harding’s attempt to trace Kando down at that time. I would like to get a confirmation of this story, for it is most interesting— though tragic. Looking forward to getting your full report, and with sincere best wishes, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

December 10, 1961

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter of November, 8, 1961 is now before me. Replying to your enquiry about Bulos Gilf, he is the man holding the staff and having on the icon. Of course he is the same Gilf whom you met in 1948. I am enclosing to you a recent photo of Bulos Gilf praying on the head of my wife, before entering the church to baptize our daughter, in St. Mark’s Monastery. The glasses he wears are only used when reading. The priest with the grey beard was a guest at that time. What I think about the Bedouins when they said they went to St. Mark and met some monk, and because Bulos says he did not meet any Bedouins probably Isha’ya made them wait downstairs in the courtyard of the Monastery. About the Metropolitan’s leaving date, Gilf says that there is nothing recorded in the books of the Monastery, because when the Metropolitan left Jerusalem, he did not mean to stay in America for good, but to return back to the St. Mark, Jerusalem. The custom on such occasion is not to register any dates in the books. Gilf however recalls that it was the end of 1948, before Christmas, but he cannot recall the month. Your enquiry about George Isha’ya and his stay at St. Mark, I have asked his neighbours with whom he stayed in Katamon, and they confirmed the fact that he left Katamon and lived in St. Mark in December, 1947, before Christmas. I shall send later the small sheathed knife and a mother-of-pearl brooch with silver chain. I have given up the idea of trading with such articles, for it is not worthwhile sending packages of $10 worth.

Just today I received your letter of Dec. 2, and your cheque of $50.1 I would like to explain to you how difficulties were met in trying to get a recording of the facts of the discovery of the scrolls. You remember that you asked me in a previous letter to send you the address of Dahud Musallam. To obtain his address I had to visit my friend Mr. Ayoub Musallam the mayor of Bethlehem because he is his relative. When I asked for the address he wanted to know the reason. I explained to him the reason. He said that we could not benefit from the brother of Dahoud Musallam, but he could get the Bedouins who first discovered the scrolls 1

= $300 in 2002.

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and they would tell us the whole story, and if we could record it and translate it, I enquired if [he] was sure he could get them. He said he could, but we had to pay them some money to cover their travel expenses and daily wages, because they work in Amman. I agreed to what he said and asked if I could meet the Bedouins and discuss with them if they are willing to do this. He promised that they would come, and so I wrote and told you about that. After I wrote to you, they came to the municipality and I met them there. I asked them if they were willing to relate the story, and they said, (yes). Then I wrote again and confirmed it to you. Thereupon you sent us your 63 questions to be asked and answered accordingly by the Bedouins. Then I went again to the mayor and showed him your questions. He said he would send after them, but he suggested that I pay them $1001 for their pay. I said I could not pay them more than their daily expenses, but if I were to pay more I must write and inform you. After discussing the matter with the Bedouins for a long time in several meetings, the mayor suggested to pay them J.D. 10, saying we might need them in the future. So I had to agree to his suggestions. But when we prepared the recording machine in the presence of Dr. Docmac, they refused to utter a word about their story before they received the money. That night we remained with them till midnight discussing the case. The result was I would not pay the money and we did not need them any more. So they left. Next morning I was about to write and tell you that we failed, when I was told by the mayor that he convinced them to come to me and give the story and receive the money at the end. You know such type of […] people are very awkward, and you can only win their confidence through kind treatment and hospitality and meals. So I had to invite them to my home and feed them on several occasions and offer them coffee and other things. There was a third person, a relative of theirs, who works in Bethlehem, who took upon himself to send after them and to speak to them to convince them and win them to our side. This man had also asked for his pay. So I had to pay him also J.D. 5. Now how I managed to send you the tape needs explanation: You have truly foretold the difficulties regarding the officials of the American Consulate, for when I visited the Consul in Jerusalem, and explained to him my need of his help to send the tape to you, he said he could do nothing. Then I also asked the help of the American School of Oriental Research who could not help in the matter as well. But finally I succeeded in sending

1

= $600 in 2002.

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the tape in some unexpected circumstances which I shall explain fully to you when we meet in the future. About Kando and getting the information you asked from him is a matter of great difficulty, for Kando is a very cautious person […]. Yet I shall try to risk an attempt towards that object, if you give me enough time. Enclosed you will find a photo of the Bedouins Muhammad ed Deeb ُ ) when they came to my home for the tape and Jum’a (in Arabic Script: ‫ﺠ ْﻤﻌَﺔ‬ recording. The man beside me is Jum’a Muham[m]ad and the other one standing near Mr. Docmac is Muham[m]ad ed Deeb. The photo was taken on the roof of my home after lunch. You also find enclosed an approximate bill of the expenses. Hoping to have done a small service to you which my be of some benefit to your work, I send you and yours my wife regards and my best wishes. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

Jum’a - ‫ﺠ ْﻤﻌَﺔ‬ ُ

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K-43 Enclosure toK-42 K-42. The Story of the Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls Given Under Oath. Both discoverers, Muhammad ed-Deeb and his cousin Jum’a Muhammad gave the following statement about how they came to discover the Dead Sea Scrolls, after they have given an oral oath, according to Oriental custom, to speak the facts, only: While Deeb and Jum’a[,] his cousin[,] were tending their sheep on the hills of Khirbet Qumran, near the Dead Sea, some day in November 1946 (This date is fixed in accordance with their statement, and our analysis, for in July, 1947 the Scrolls were already in the hands of Samuel, and several months had passed, after the discovery before they were sold at all). Jum’a noticed a hole among the rocks. It was as large as to allow a cat to go into it. Jum’a through down a stone to see how deep the hole was, and to his astonishment a peculiar sound was heard within. He also noticed a larger hole a little distance above the other hole, through which a man could go in. He informed his cousin Deeb about this, and no one of them dared to enter through the larger hole, as it was late in the afternoon and the sun was setting and darkness came. So the[y] postponed their adventure till later. After three days, but this time it was after sunrise early in the morning, Deeb ventured to go into the hole, and he happened to fall in a cave, where he saw about ten jars around him on both sides some of which had covers on top and some without covers. There were some ruins in the centre of the cave, stones and earth falling from the top, under which some broken jars were buried. He selected one of the jars, removed the top and found in it 3 Scrolls, two of which were covered with cloth and the 3rd. was not. They looked greenish in colour, probably due to the dampness of the cave for many years. He also noticed a wooden pole in the cave about 3 inches in diameter. He took out these 3 scrolls and showed them to Jum’a, his cousin, who was with the sheep about 100 metres away. Then they both went back to the cave, where they searched again, they broke a jar full of red earth, and took out two good empty jars with covers on them. Each jar and each cover had 3 handles. The 3 scrolls and the 2 empty jars were kept with them in the wilderness for 3 days. Then Jum’a’s son came to his father and Jum’a kept him with the sheep and went back home to the Ta’amreh camp, taking the scrolls and the jars with him. There he hang the scrolls in the tent pole for a month before he took them to Bethlehem to try to sell them to some merchant. He took them to a man named Ibrahim Ijha, an oriental carpenter who also dealt in antiquities. They both agreed to keep

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them with Ibrahim for some time to find out what value the scrolls had. They remained with Ijha for about a month, when Jum’a came back to enquire what had happened. Ijha told him that no one would buy such things. So Jum’a took the scrolls again and kept the 2 empty jars with Ijha. By chance he met George Isha’ya, a peddler who sold cloaks to the Ta’amreh Bedouins. Originally Isha’ya came from Syria and he imported his goods from there to sell them in Bethlehem. Isha’ya saw the scrolls with Jum’a and asked him to leave them with him to show them to some antiquity merchants to find out their true value. But Jum’a would not trust George. Jum’a, however, had a relative named Sheikh Ali Subh in Bethlehem (here Sheikh simply is title given to a head of a tribe or a notable among his people, and is not necessarily a religious title, as an example Sheikh Bishara El Khoury once president of Lebanon is a Christian by faith and (Sheikh) is only a title of honour). Jum’a consulted Sheikh Ali Subh about the matter, and Subh took him to Kando who guaranteed to look after the scrolls, and in case they were of any value and were sold, he promised 2/3 of the price to Jum’a. Jum’a agreed. So the scrolls remained with Kando and George Isha’ya for about a month, but could not be sold to anybody. Then Jum’a was advised to take the scrolls to the monestery of Mar Morcos and show them to the Metropolitan there, who might know something about them. So Jum’a went to see the Metropolitan in Jerusalem, together with Khalil Musa, his relative, and George Isha’ya. George took Jum’a and Khalil Musa first to his home in Katamon, Jerusalem, where he offered them lunch. After lunch he took them to see the Metropolitan in Mar Morcos (St. Mark monestery). In the monestery they were received by Boulos Jilf[,] a monk, who would not let them in, but sent them away, without giving them any chance to see the Metropolitan, telling them that the scrolls they had brought were of no value whatever. So they all went back to Bethlehem to Kando with the scrolls. They did not go to any Jewish merchant in Jaffa Gate. The scrolls remained with Kando for another period, after which Jum’a came to enquire about what had happened. He was told by Kando that the sum of 24 Palestine pounds were offered for them. Jum’a agreed to this and received, according to their previous agreement, 16 pounds, his share of the transaction. Sometime after this, George Isha’ya requested Jum’a to lead him to the cave, where the scrolls were discovered. So Jum’a, George and Khalil Musa went together in a taxi from Jerusalem to the cross road of Jericho-Dead Sea. From there they went on foot for a hour walk until they got to the cave. In the return journey, George Isha’ya built some stone marks to help

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him find hi[s] way to the cave, in case he had to visit the cave again. Sometime later Jum’a met Isha’ya and Khalil Musa in Bethlehem carrying 2 new scrolls, which they had kept for a period with Dahoud Musallam. It seems, according to Jum’a’s report that they had gone again to the cave and discovered those 2 scrolls. Jum’a told them to show the 2 scrolls to Faidi Salahi, in Bethlehem, who bought them for seven Palestine pounds. A short statement given by Ibrahim Ijha of Bethlehem. An oriental carpenter who deals in antiquities, says that Jum’a and Khalil Musa, some 14 years ago, brought 3 scrolls and 2 jars with conical covers to him. They remained in his shop for about 20 days. In that meanwhile Ijha showed the scrolls to Feidi Salahi who suspected the scrolls not being ancient, but stolen from a Jewish synagogue and had not any archaeological value. So Ijha was not encouraged to buy the scrolls and gave them back to Jum’a who then took them to Kando. According to this statement, Ijha was the first person in Bethlehem who saw the scrolls. Another short statement about the scrolls from Bulos Gilf. He said that when the Bedouins came with Isha’ya and the scrolls to St. Mark Monestery, he was in his room upstairs, and Isha’ya alone came in and showed him the scrolls which were kept in an old bag. He did not see the Bedouins. Wh[en] Isha’ya opened the bag to show him the scrolls, Gilf smelt an unagree[a]ble smell in the bag, and so sent Isha’ya away, saying that what was in the bag had no value, whatever, and should be thrown away. He cared not to see the scrolls and examine them to see how many they were. When the Metropolitan came later Gilf told him what had happened. The Metropolitan was angry with him for not reporting the matter to him. Bulos said[, “]you were not here.[”] Approximate of all kinds of expenses J.D. Paid for the Bedouins and a third person 15 Postage expenses for the tape 1 Postage expenses for letters cost of tape 1 To hire a recorder 1 several trips to Jerusalem for enquiries 1 other expenses approximately 5 25

Fils 000 70 170 250 000 150 000 010

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The 7th. line expenses which is 5 J.D. I m not sure exactly because I did not wrote down what I have spent because I did not expect to spend do much on them and I am sorry for this expenses. P.S.

The $50 made the previous $25 made

J.D. Fils 17.750 87.50 26.500

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K-44 The following documents, in Kiraz’s handwriting, may or may have not been sent to Trever. They may have been used as a draft to K-43 by Kiraz and Docmac. The documents are: I. Introduction in English II. Translations into Arabic of Trever’s questions. III. English summary of the answers to the questions. Introduction This is just to introduce our recording of the story of the accidental the actual1 finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Muhammad Eth-Theeb, a Bedouin shepherd, in Khirbet Qumran, near the Dead Sea. I, Anton Kiraz, of Bethlehem, have now this day, Saturday, Nobember 25th, 1961, in my house in Bethlehem, Muhammad Eth-Theeb, the actual finder of the Scrolls and his cousin Jum’a Muhammad who assisted him. You This recording is specially made for Dr. Trever, you will now who who himself prepared the questions to be asked answered personally by Muhammad Eth-Theeb, whose voice you will presently hear. Mr. Judeh Docmac, the headmaster of the Lutheren School in Bethlehem, has himself volunteered to translate the answers of the discoverer of the Dead Sea Scrolls into English.

(‫ ﻜﻡ ﺴﻨﺔ ﻋﻤﺭﻙ )ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﻟﺫﻴﺏ‬.1 ‫ ﻜﻡ ﺴﻨﺔ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻋﻤﺭﻙ ﻟﻤﺎ ﺍﻜﺘﺸﻔﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻭﺠﺩ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻘﺩﻴﻤﺔ‬.2 ‫ ﻫل ﺘﻌﺘﺒﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﺤﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺤﻭل ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ ﺒﺠﺎﻨﺏ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺕ ﺘﺨﺹ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﻤﺭﺓ‬.3 ‫ ﻫل ﺍﻟﺴﻭﺍﺤﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺒﻴﺩﻴﺔ ﻴﺭﻋﻭﻥ ﻏﻨﻤﻬﻡ ﺍﻴﻀﹰﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺘﻠﻙ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺤﻴﺔ‬.4 ‫ ﻫل ﻗﺒﻴﻠﺘﻜﻡ ﻟﻬﺎ ﻤﻘﺒﺭﺓ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺤﺠﺭ ﺍﻟﻌﺼﺒﺔ ﺍﻻﺼﺒﺢ ﺍﻟﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺸﻤﺎل ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ‬.5 ‫ ﻫل ﺘﺄﺨﺫﻭﻥ ﻏﻨﻤﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ ﺍﺤﻴﺎﻨﺄ ﻜﺜﻴﺭﺓ‬.6 ‫ ﻫل ﺘﻭﺠﺩ ﺍﻭﻗﺎﺕ ﻤﻌﻴﻨﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺔ ﻓﻴﺎ ﺘﺄﺨﺫﻭﻥ ﻗﻁﻌﺎﻨﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ‬.7 ‫ ﻫل ﺘﺄﺨﺫﻭﻥ ﻗﻁﻌﺎﻨﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ ﺍﺤﻴﺎﻨﹰﺎ ﻜﺜﻴﺭﺓ‬.8 ‫ ﻟﻤﺫﺍ ﺘﺄﺨﺫﻭﻥ ﻗﻁﻌﺎﻨﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻋﻴﻥ ﻓﺸﺨﺔ‬.9 ‫ ﻫل ﺘﺫﻜﺭ ﺯﻤﻥ ﻤﻐﺎﺩﺭﺓ ﺍﻻﻨﻜﻠﻴﺯ ﺒﻼﺩ ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ ﻭﺤﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺏ ﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﻴﻬﻭﺩ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﺘﺒﻊ‬.10 ‫ﺫﻟﻙ‬ .‫ ﻜﻡ ﺴﻨﺔ ﻗﺒل ﻤﻐﺎﺩﺭﺓ ﺍﻻﻨﻜﻠﻴﺯ ﺒﻼﺩ ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ ﻋﺜﺭﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻗﺭﺏ ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ‬.11 ‫ ﻫل ﻜﻨﺕ ﺘﻔﺘﺵ ﻋﻥ ﻤﺎﻋﺯ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺘﺴﻠﻕ ﺍﻟﺠﺒل ﻋﻨﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬.12

It seems the first draft read recording of the actual finding. There is an insert after ‘of’ that reads the story of the accidental, but the word actual remains unstroked. 1

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‫‪ .13‬ﻫل ﺭﺃﻴﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﻋﺯ ﺘﺘﺴﻠﻕ ﺍﻟﺼﺨﺭﺓ ﻭﺘﺒﻌﺘﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻨﻙ ﻓﻘﺩﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﻋﺯ ﻭﺫﻫﺒﺕ ﻟﺘﺒﺤﺙ‬ ‫ﻋﻨﺎ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .14‬ﺍﻴﻥ ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﻏﻨﻤﻙ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﻗﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺭ ﺍﻭ ﺸﻤﺎل ﻋﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺸﺨﺔ ﺍﻭ‬ ‫ﺠﻨﻭﺒﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻗﺭﺏ ﺨﺭﺒﺔ ﻗﻤﺭﺍﻥ‬ ‫‪ .15‬ﻓﻲ ﺍﻱ ﻭﻗﺕ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺔ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﻭﺠﺩﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻻﻭل ﻤﺭﺓ ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺍﻭل ﺍﻟﺭﺒﻴﻊ‬ ‫ﺍﻭ ﺍﺨﺭ ﺍﻟﺭﺒﻴﻊ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻭل ﺍﻟﺼﻴﻑ‬ ‫‪ .16‬ﻫل ﻜﻨﺕ ﻤﺭﺘﺎﺤﹰﺎ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺭﺍﻴﺕ ﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻻﻭل ﻤﺭﺓ ﺍﻭ ﻜﻨﺕ ﺘﺘﺴﻠﻕ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﺘﻔﻌﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺒﺤﺜﹰﺎ ﻋﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﻋﺯ‬ ‫‪ .17‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﺴﺘﻭﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺒﺼﺭ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﻜﻨﺕ ﻭﺍﻗﻔﹰﺎ ﺍﻤﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻭ ﻜﺎﻨﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻋﻠﻰ ﻤﻨﻙ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻭﻁﻰ ﻤﻨﻙ‬ ‫ﻻ ﻟﻤﺎ‬ ‫‪ .18‬ﻫل ﻜﻨﺕ ﺘﺴﺘﻁﻴﻊ ﺍﻥ ﺘﺩﺨل ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺤﺎﻟﻤﺎ ﻭﺠﺩﺘﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻨﻙ ﻨﻅﺭﺕ ﺩﺍﺨﻠﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﹰ‬ ‫ﻜﻨﺕ ﻭﺤﺩﻙ‬ ‫‪ .19‬ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﻨﻅﺭﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺍﺨﻠﻬﺎ ﻫل ﻜﻨﺕ ﺘﺭﻯ ﺸﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .20‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﻟﻠﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺒﺎﺏ ﻭﺍﺤﺩ ﺍﻭ ﺍﺜﻨﺎﻥ‬ ‫‪ .21‬ﻫل ﺃﺤﻤﺩ‪ 1‬ﺠﻤﻌﺔ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﺒﻥ ﻋﻤﻙ‬ ‫‪ .22‬ﻫل ﺫﻫﺒﺕ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺍﻟﻐﻨﻡ ﻭﻨﺎﺩﻴﺕ ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺠﻤﻌﺔ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﻗﺒل ﺍﻥ ﺘﺩﺨل ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .23‬ﻫل ﺩﺨل ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺠﻤﻌﺔ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻤﻌﻙ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻨﻪ ﺴﺎﻋﺩﻙ ﻓﻘﻁ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺩﺨﻭل ﺍﻟﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ‬ ‫ﺍﻨﻙ ﺍﻨﺕ ﺴﺎﻋﺩﺘﻪ ﻟﻜﻲ ﻴﺩﺨل‬ ‫ﻻ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺩﺨﻠﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .24‬ﻤﺎﺫﺍ ﺭﺍﻴﺕ ﺍﻭ ﹰ‬ ‫‪ .25‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺭﺍﻴﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻏﻁﻴﺔ ﻭﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﻴﻭﺠﺩ‬ ‫ﺸﻲﺀ ﺒﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﻭﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺓ ﺸﻲﺀ ﻤﺜل ﺍﻟﻘﻤﺎﺵ‬ ‫‪ .26‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻤﻠﻔﻭﻓﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻗﻤﺎﺵ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻜﺜﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺠﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﺤﺩﺓ ﺍﺫﺍ ﻜﺎﻥ ﺍﻻﻤﺭ‬ ‫ﻜﺫﻟﻙ ﻜﻡ ﺠﺭﺓ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻤﺜل ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ‬ ‫‪ .27‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺓ ﺍﻻﻭﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻭﺠﺩﺕ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻻ ﻏﻁﺎﺀ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺒﺎﺒﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .28‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﻤُﻁﻴﻨﹰﺎ ﺒﺎﻟﻁﻴﻥ ﺍﻭ ﻤﻠﻔﻭﻓﹰﺎ ﺒﺎﻟﻘﻤﺎﺵ‬ ‫ﻻ ﻻﻭل ﻤﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .29‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺘﻠﻙ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺓ ﻤﻜﺴﻭﺭﺓ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺭﺍﻴﺘﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﹰ‬ ‫‪ .30‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺍﺨل ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺓ ﻏﻴﺭ ﻤﻠﻔﻭﻓﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻏﻴﺭ ﻗﻤﺎﺵ‬ ‫‪ .31‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻤﻭﺠﻭﺩﺓ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﻟﻴﺱ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺍﺨل‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺍﺭ‬ ‫‪ .32‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻤﻤﻜﻥ ﺭﺅﻴﺘﻬﺎ ﺒﻴﻥ ﺍﻻﻗﺫﺍﺭ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .33‬ﻫل ﺘﻨﺎﻭﻟﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻭﻗﻁﻌﺎ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺨﺎﺭﺝ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺍﺭ‬ ‫‪ .34‬ﻫل ﺍﺨﺫﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺨﺎﺭﺝ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺒﻨﻔﺴﻙ ﺍﻭ ﻨﺎﻭﻟﺘﻬﺎ ]ﺍ[ﻟﻰ ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺠﻤﻌﺔ‬ ‫ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﻤﻥ ﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪Not scratched in the original.‬‬

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‫‪ .35‬ﻜﻡ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻋﺩﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻭﺤﺩﺘﻬﺎ ]ﻭﺠﺩﺘﻬﺎ ‪ [read:‬ﻓﻲ ﺍﻭل ﻤﺭﺓ ﻭﻫل ﺍﺨﺫﺘﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻜﻠﻬﺎ ﻤﻌﻙ ﻟﻤﺎ ﺘﺭﻜﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .36‬ﻫل ﺍﺨﺫﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﺠﺭﺍﺭ ﻤﻌﻙ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ ﺍﻴﻀﹰﺎ ﻭﻜﻡ ﺠﺭﺓ ﺍﺨﺫﺕ‬ ‫‪ .37‬ﻫل ﺭﺠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﻤﺭﺓ ﺜﺎﻨﻴﺔ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺯﻴﺎﺭﺘﻙ ﺍﻻﻭﻟﻰ ﻟﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .38‬ﻫل ﺭﺍﻴﺕ ﺍﺸﻴﺎﺀ ﺍﺨﺭﻯ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫‪ .39‬ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺤﺼﻠﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻨﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺨﻴﻤﺘﻙ ﻫل ﺍﻨﻜﺴﺭ ﻤﻌﻙ ﺸﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﻤﻨﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻰ ﻜﻡ ﻗﺴﻡ ﺘﻜﺴﺭﺕ ﻭﻜﻡ ﻋﺩﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻰ ﺘﻜﺴﺭﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﻰ ﻜﻡ ﻗﺴﻡ ﺇﻨﻘﺴﻤﺕ‬ ‫‪ .40‬ﻤﺎﺫﺍ ﻋﻤﻠﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺒﻌﺩﻤﺎ ﻭﺠﺩﺘﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .41‬ﻫل ﺭﺠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻐﺎﺭﺓ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺫﻟﻙ ﻟﺘﺤﻀﺭ ﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﺨﺭﻯ ﺍﻭ ﻗﻁﻌﹰﺎ ﻤﻨﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .42‬ﻜﻡ ﻤﻀﻰ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ ﻗﺒل ﺍﻥ ﺘﺄﺨﺫ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ‬ ‫‪ .43‬ﻤﻥ ﺫﻫﺏ ﻤﻌﻙ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺍﺨﺫﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻟﻠﺒﻴﻊ ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺠﻤﻌﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﺒﻭﻩ ﻤﻌﻪ ﺍﻭ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻭﺍﺤﺩ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻋﻤﺎﻤﻙ ﺍﻻﺨﺭﻴﻥ‬ ‫‪ .44‬ﺍﻟﻰ ﻤﻥ ﺫﻫﺒﺕ ﺍﻭﻻ ﻓﻲ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ ﻟﻜﻲ ﺘﺒﻴﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ‬ ‫‪ .45‬ﻫل ﺍﺨﺫﺕ ﻜل ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻤﻌﻙ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻭل ﺯﻴﺎﺭﺓ ﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ‬ ‫‪ .46‬ﻫل ﺍﺨﺫﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺸﻴﺦ ﻓﻲ ﺠﺎﻤﻊ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ ﻭﻫل ﺘﺫﻜﺭ ﻤﺎﺫﺍ ﻗﺎل ﻟﻙ ﻫﺫﺍ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺸﻴﺦ ﺍﻥ ﺘﻌﻤل ﺒﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .47‬ﻫل ﺫﻫﺒﺕ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ )ﺨﻠﻴل ﺍﺴﻜﻨﺩﺭ ﺸﺎﻫﻴﻥ( ﺍﻟﻜﻨﺩﺭﺠﻲ ﺍﻟﻘﺭﻴﺏ ﻤﻥ ﺒﺎﺏ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺩﻴﺭ‬ ‫‪ .48‬ﻫل ﻋﺭﻀﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺤﺩ ﺍﺨﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺘﺠﺎﺭ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ‬ ‫‪ .49‬ﻫل ﺘﺭﻜﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺤﻠﻴل‪ 1‬ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﺘﺭﻜﺘﻬﺎ ﻜﻠﻬﺎ ﺍﻭ ﻗﺴﻤﹰﺎ ﻤﻨﻬﺎ‬ ‫‪ .50‬ﻫل ﺍﺭﺠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺘﻙ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺯﻴﺎﺭﺘﻙ ﺍﻻﻭﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ ﻟﺘﺒﻴﻌﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻫﻨﺎﻙ‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .51‬ﻫل ﺫﻫﺒﺕ ﻤﻊ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﺍﻭ ﺼﺩﻴﻕ ﻟﻪ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻘﺩﺱ ﻟﺘﺯﻭﺭﻭﺍ ﺩﻴﺭ ﻤﺎﺭ ﻤﺭﻗﺹ ﻭﻜﻡ ﻭﺍﺤﺩﹰﺍ‬ ‫ﻤﻨﻜﻡ ﺫﻫﺏ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ‬ ‫‪ .52‬ﻫل ﺍﺭﺠﻌﻭﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺨﺎﺭﺝ ﺍﻟﺩﻴﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ ﻭﻟﻡ ﻴﺴﻤﺤﻭﺍ ﻟﻜﻡ ﺍﻥ ﺘﺯﻭﺭﻭﺍ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻁﺭﺍﻥ ﻜﻤﺎ ﻁﻠﺒﻭﺍ ﻤﻨﻜﻡ ﺍﻥ ﺘﻌﻤﻠﻭﺍ‪.‬‬ ‫‪ .53‬ﻫل ﻜﺎﻥ ﺠﻭﺭﺝ ﺍﺸﻌﻴﺎ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻤﻌﻜﻡ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ‬ ‫‪ .54‬ﻋﻨﺩﻤﺎ ﺘﺭﻜﺘﻡ ﺍﻟﺩﻴﺭ ﻫل ﻋﺭﻀﺘﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺘﺎﺠﺭ ﻴﻬﻭﺩﻱ ﻗﺭﺏ ﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﺨﻠﻴل‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻘﺩﺱ‬ ‫‪ .55‬ﻜﻡ ﻋﺭﺽ ﻋﻠﻴﻙ ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺠﺭ ﺍﻟﻴﻬﻭﺩﻱ ﺜﻤﻨﹰﺎ ﻟﻠﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ‬ ‫‪ .56‬ﻫل ﺍﻗﻨﻌﻙ ﺇﺸﻌﻴﺎ ﺍﻥ ﺘﺭﺠﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ‬ ‫‪ .57‬ﻫل ﺭﺠﻌﺘﻡ ﻜﻠﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺩﻜﺎﻥ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﺍﻭ ﺫﻫﺏ ﺭﺠﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻌﺽ ﻤﻨﻜﻡ ﻓﻘﻁ‬ ‫‪ and without‬ل ‪, but left off before completing the last‬ﺨﻠﻴل ‪Kiraz started writing‬‬ ‫‪.‬خ ‪putting the diacritic dot on‬‬ ‫‪1‬‬

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‫ ﻫل ﻗﺴﻤﺘﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻤﻌﻜﻡ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺼﺩﻗﺎﺌﻙ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ ﺍﻭ ﻗﺒل ﺍﻭ ﺒﻌﺩ‬.58 ‫ ﻫل ﺒﻌﺙ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﻋﻨﺩﺌﺫ ﺍﻭ ﺒﻌﺜﻬﺎ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﻭﺍﻨﻙ ﺒﻌﺜﺘﻬﺎ ﻜﻠﻬﺎ‬.59 ‫ﻟﻪ‬ ‫ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻨﻙ ﺭﺠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻘﺩﺱ ﺒﻌﺩ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺒﺎﺴﺒﻭﻉ ﻭﻜﺎﻥ ﻤﻌﻙ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﺍﻭ ﺇﺸﻌﻴﺎ ﻭﺒﻌﺙ‬.60 ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺭﺃﺴﹰﺎ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻤﻁﺭﺍﻥ ﺼﻤﻭﺌﻴل ﻓﻲ ﺩﻴﺭ ﻤﺎﺭ ﻤﺭﻗﺹ‬ ‫ ﻫل ﺍﺴﺘﻠﻤﺕ ﺜﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺒﻌﺘﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻁﺭﺍﻥ ﺼﻤﻭﺌﻴل ﻤﻥ ﻜﻨﺩﻭ ﺍﻭ ﻤﻥ‬.61 ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻁﺭﺍﻥ ﻨﻔﺴﻪ‬ ‫ ﻫل ﺍﻨﺕ ﺍﻭ ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﻭ ﻭﺍﺤﺩ ﺍﺨﺭ ﻤﻥ ﻗﺒﻴﻠﺘﻜﻡ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻗﺎﺒل ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺠﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺩﻋﻭ ﻓﻴﻀﻲ‬.62 ‫ﺼﻼﺤﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺒﻴﺕ ﻟﺤﻡ‬ ‫ ﻫل ﺍﻨﺕ ﺍﻭ ﺍﺼﺩﻗﺎﺌﻙ ﺒﻌﺙ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻰ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺠﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻨﻔﺱ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ‬.63 .‫ﺘﻘﺭﻴﺒﹰﺎ ﺍﻭ ﻜﺎﻥ ﺫﻟﻙ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﺒﻌﺩ ﻭﺍﺫﺍ ﻜﺎﻥ ﻫﺫﺍ ﻓﻜﻡ ﻤﻀﻰ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻭﻗﺕ‬ 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23)

c[.] 32 yrs. c[.] 18 yrs. yes yes yes When the rive water of the our cisterns is over consumed we take our flocks towards there. The end of the summer We go on tending our sheep there till the spring. For the sake of water and warm weather. Yes, I don’t know exactly when, but I think c 13 or 14 yrs. ago. c one 2 years before the British left Palestine. I was not looking for a lost goat, but was tending my sheep. No. They were north of the plateau. It was in autumn, towards winter. I was resting. It was higher. I was with Jum‛a my cousin and he threw a stone into the cave and we heard a sound. We did not dare to enter for it was dark towards sunset. No we could see nothing, because it was a small hole. The original ope Only a cat could go in. I had 2 openings, one higher than the other. Yes. No, because After 3 days, we I came back in the morning after sunrise I and entered the cave alone. Jum‛a was about 100 m. away [???], with his sheep.

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24) It was dark at first, but when I could see there were many about 10 jars in it on my right and on my left both sides. The jars in the middle were broken by some ruins falling from the top. 25) Some jars had covers and some had not. There was nothing in between. The Every jar had 3 handles & likewise the top. 26) I found 3 manuscripts in one covered jar only. They were rolled in cloth greenish in colour. 27) Yes. 28) Neither this nor the other. 29) No. 30) All 2 only wrapped, the 3rd not. 31) No. 32) If there were such tings, I couldn’t see them because I didn’t search. 33) No. 34) I myself carried them out. 35) There were 3 which I took. 36) I took At first I took the scrolls with no jars. Then I went back to the cave with Jum‛a my cousin, and we took out 2 empty jars, on at the same time. 37) After we took out the jars I didn’t go back. 38) No. I saw a wooden pole about 3 inches in diameter at the original entrance. 39) I kept the 3 rolls out in the desert wilderness with me for 8 days. Then Jum‛a my cousin took them home. There he tried to open a scroll which broke and about 8 pieces of about 5 sq. cm. were thrown away. 40) I already See 39. I sent them home with my cousin. 41) No, but my cousin did. 42) About a month, they were kept with my cousin. 43) Jum‛a alone took them. 44) Jum‛a I went to Ibrahim Ijha, an oriental carpenter and iniquities dealer. 45) Yes, the 3 scrolls with the 2 empty jars. 46) No. 47) A man named George Ishaya who sold cloaks to the Ta‛amreh Bedouins took me to Kando. 48) No. 49) I left them all with Kando. 50) No. 51) After 3 months, I went with Isha‛ya to a monk in Mar Marcos convent and Khalil Musa a friend of mine went with us. 52) Yes they drove us out, we didn’t see the Metrop.

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53) 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) 61) 62)

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Yes. No. We didn’t go. I myself took them back to Bethlehem. All went to Kando. We didn’t divide them. All of them we sold to K. & Sha‛ya. No. From Kando, £16.1 Yes, I and Khalil Musa with G. Sha‛ya met Feidi Salahi, but not for the sake of these scrolls. G Sha‛ya and Khalil Musa had gone back to the cave and brought 3 other scrolls. I had led Sha‛ya to the cave sometime before and lodged them with Daud Musallam. 63) It was about a month later.

1

= $520 in 2002.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace-College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

December 18, 1961

Dear Anton, Congratulations on a job well done! I give you an “A” plus grade on this assignment!1 You have carried it out with persistence, skill, and efficiency. I am deeply grateful. The tape arrived in good shape the day after your previous letter. I have listened to it several times already, and am delighted with the contents, as well as the way you handled it. I hasten to add that a host of new questions now arise, but these will have to be examined in due time, one by one. A comparative analysis of this with all previous reports will have to be made, but I can see where some very significant values will be forthcoming. At certain points I feel the memory of the Bedouins must be hazy, and at one point I pulled a boner with one question which drew an answer which would have been expected but which is worthless. I am sorry I was not more careful at that point, for the questions could have avoided the problem. At times my questions became worthless in view of a previous answer. The new direction which this takes at certain points opens up new problems, one of which is a real puzzler. This is going to be a tough one to solve. Unfortunately it has come [read: some] support from the official Department of Antiquities report. Thus I cannot take issue with the Bedouins easily. Perhaps next summer arrangements can be made to figure out some of these problems. In the meantime I will use the material pretty much as it is in my book and point out the problems for further study. It was certainly grand of Mr. Docmac to cooperate with you in this project. He did an excellent job from all I can determine. I guess I shall have to get special tutoring in Arabic now to make a personal analysis. Mr. Docmac had a hard job at several points, it seems to me. Please give him my sincere appreciation. I will write soon, but have too much else to do right now. You certainly had your difficulties working this interview out, and I am sorry it involved so much of your 1

Kiraz was proud of the “A” grade and mentioned it on many an occasion.

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time. I am enclosing $151 additional as an expression of my appreciation and as a Christmas gift to you. I appreciate your sending the itemized expenses. This will be important for income tax records. It is quite ironical to think that it cost me 2/3rds as much to get this interview from the Bedouins as they got originally for the first scrolls—and all I have is information! Thanks a lot for taking the pictures too. That is an important addition to the material. Since I may want to use one or both of the pictures of the interviewers in a future publication, I wonder if you could have two highquality enlargements made of each of the group pictures from your original negatives? They could include only the persons (i.e., have the sky cut out of the one taken on the roof) and enlarged to about 13x18 cm (or 9 x12 cm) if possible. Emphasize to the photographer that I want them as clear as the negatives will make them. Do I understand correctly from the statement you give that you were able to consult Ibrahim Ijha? I take it, then, that he is still there. Is he an amiable person and cooperative? We might to consult him further. Who is Khalil Musa? His is new name in the story. Is he still living? Another question comes to mind is the relation of your typed story to the taped interview. Was this done before the taped interview, or afterwards? Did you compile it from the taped interview, or was this a special statement made to you at another time? Was this made originally in Arabic from which you translated, or did you prepare it in English directly? Do you have it written in Arabic? When it comes to scholarly publication of any of this material, I shall have to include the Arabic. I hope to get it transcribed from the tape later. Apparently Mr. Ayoub Musallam is a good friend of yours. He certainly has been helpful in this. I would appreciate your giving him my sincere appreciation for his assistance. Perhaps he could answer one question I have been trying to trace down. An early report had it that Dahoud Musallam carried a scroll from Cave I with him, when he went to South America. Nothing has ever been heard from this since. One report has it that it was a scroll of Jonah, another, that it was a scroll of Ruth. Was it really known which book it was? Is there any way to trace this scroll now, or is this just a fairy tale? It would be good to get this cleared up. You do not give the name of the friend of the two Bedouins who worked with you. On the back of one of the pictures you give his name as Salameh. Do you have his full name? Was he involved in the early story at 1

= $90 in 2002.

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all, or just a friend now? You mention a Sheikh Ali Subh who took Jum’a to Kando. Is he still living? Do you know anything else about him? We keep getting new names into the story which eventually tends to make scholars wary about the accuracy of anything newly published. Thus I must get all the information I can to back up any new names mentioned. This new material will have to be published with full notes to be effective. Thus I shall develop a scholarly article out of it, using only a summary in my book. Do you know any reason why this material should not be published? I do not want to cause any confusion if I can help it. The fact that the name is Jum’a, instead of Ahmad, is going to create a problem since the earliest accounts give his name as Ahmad. The question is whether this is the same person, or whether it is merely a confusion of names. I will not burden you further with questions now, for you are doubtless tired of all my queries. You have, however, been most helpful, and I hope it will prove valuable to the future in matters relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls. […] Oh yes, I forgot one question: At the end of Bulos Gilf’s statement it says, “Bulos said you were not here.” I presume this to mean at the time he turned the Bedouins away, but could he mean that he never met me? MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to your wife, your children and yourself, from all of us. Faithfully, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. January 1, 1962

Dear Anton, Happy New Year to you and your fine family. How is the little one? I do not believe you have told me his (or her?) name. I hope your wife is now recovered from her illness. Please give her my regards. […] It was most kind of Mr. Docmac to assist you with the tape. I have now written him a letter of appreciation. He did a fine job on the tape, and I want him to know my personal appreciation. Perhaps next summer I can make it more personal. […] A few questions need to be answered, as I get into the final stages of my book, especially as a result of the taped interview. 1. Since the Bedouins claim they only sold three manuscripts to the Syrians in July, 1947, how did Samuel get that tightly rolled and unopened “Fourth Scroll” which I later identified as “Lamech”? Do you have the September, 1948, Biblical Archaeologist? That scroll is pictured on p. 53. Would Ijha remember it, or Kando? 2. Father Bulos’ statement is inconsistent with Jum’a’s statement. (Also that of Samuel in 1948 and Butrous Sowmy). Why would Isha’ya go to Bulos, when he had been instructed to go to Samuel? 3. The biggest problem is why Isha’ya went with Khalil Musa and Jum’a to Feidi Salahi with the two scrolls Jum’a mentions and sell them for 7poundP, when Samuel was seeking to buy other scrolls and had instructed Isha’ya to make friends with the Bedouins in order to get others? Did Isha’ya double-cross the Metropolitan? Why did not Kando get in on that second deal, if Isha’ya was in on it? The Metropolitan was pressing Kando also. Could it be that George Isha’ya and Kando had a disagreement (perhaps Kando did not give George any of the profit from the first sale) and thus Isha’ya would not deal with him later? (Samuel gave Isha’ya 4,000 as a gift and a similar amount to Kando, but I believe you said that it was rumored that Kando never got his gift). Was the Metropolitan in Syria with you when Isha’ya and the others took those scrolls from the cave and thus not available to buy them? 4. When you had the interview with the Bedouins, was the tape recorder kept going constantly, or was it stopped at any point during the

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interview? In other words does this represent the whole conversation from beginning to end. 5. I also need to know if the Bedouins had any advance information about any of the questions before the actual moment when they were asked during the recording. Occasionally I hear some background talk that suggest both Bedouins were talking, and I wondered if they coached each other at any time. (I will be asked these questions when I publish the material, so I want to anticipate them by including the information about the whole process you used. Scholars are going to be skeptical about this, since it differs considerably from the early accounts. Thus I need to anticipate as many of their questions as possible.) 6. I keep forgetting to ask one question about your meeting with Dr. Sukenik at the “Y[. M. C. A.]”. Dr. Sukenik’s claim (in his diary) is that on February 6th, 1948, when he returned the scrolls to you, he suggested another meeting (with the Metropolitan and Dr. Magnes, then president of the Hebrew University) at the Yugoslav Consulate for a final agreement on price. This meeting was never held, but did you recall planning it? Was the Yugoslav Consulate more convenient? Where was it? 7. Do you know what kind of work Muhammad adh-Dhib and Jum’a Muhammad are [d]oing in Amman? Do you think a meeting could be arranged with them there this coming summer? Would it cost another $501 to get them together for another discussion when I am there? I have drained my resources for such things, I fear. This is pretty expensive business just for some conversations! I would like, however, to follow up some lines of the conversation of possible. Perhaps I could visit them in their homes out in the wilderness. I hope you are not too tired of my ceaseless questions, but you see how meticulous scholars have to be to get at the facts. It is very difficult to be convincing in this kind of thing, so I have to try to anticipate all the questions that will be asked and cover them in whatever I publish. Again let me say how much I appreciate your splendid cooperation in all this. It has been wonderful, and I trust that the results will warrant all the efforts to which we have all gone to get at the truth. Best wishes for a more prosperous New Year for you. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

1

= $300 in 2002.

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K-47 Thank you for your lovely Christmas card and enclosed letter. Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN John C. Trever

January 24, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever, I acknowledge with thanks both your letters of Dec. 18, 1961 and Jan. 4, 1962. I am sorry I could not answer them earlier due to the celebration of Christmas three times in Bethlehem; 1St. Dec. 25 [Catholics], 2nd., Jan. 7 [Eastern Orthodox] and 3rd. Jan. 19th. when the Armenians have their Christmas, and we took part in all of them and some relatives and friends visited us from Israel, and we had to accommodate them in our little home here which took all our free time. Now let me start to answer your questions: Ibrahim Ijha is still working as an oriental carpenter and dealing at the same time with certain antiquities, he is amiable and cooperative in case you like to consult him further. Khalil Musa is an old Bedouin of the Ta’amreh who still lives, and I am planning, through a friend called Jalil Ilias Abu Sabha who knows Khalil Musa well and who was a neighbour and a good friend of the late Dahoud Musallam and knows all his secrets, to meet Khalil Musa indirectly, without the knowledge of Jum’a and Muhammad Ed-Dheeb. I shall try to get the whole story of the scrolls from Khalil Musa as he would relate it, and send it to you in due course. I have already heard a similar story of the scrolls from Jalil I also will send you later. I shall try to get all I can from Khalil Musa in a friendly talk without making him aware that I am concerned about the scrolls and the story, and in this way we shall escape any payment or obligation whatever. As for the story of the scrolls which I sent to you in a long letter it was related to me and Mr. Docmac by both Ed-Dheeb and Jum’a the night before the tape was recorded, as it was too late to do the recording the same night. The next day we met in the morning at my home where we had train them how they should form their answers in a short way to save time and space in the recording, for their answers were too lengthy, each would form a story by itself in a repeated way. At the same meeting which was

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only 6 hours before the recording they swore to the truth of their statement. I showed your letter of Dec. 18 to Mr. Ayoub Musallam and made him read the paragraph concerning him. He said for sure that Dahoud Musallam took no scrolls with him to South America. Jalil, the neighbour and friend of Dahoud, also emphasized to me 100% that Dahoud took no scrolls to America and said that the newspapers published the value of the scrolls after Dahoud had left for America, so Dahoud did not consider those scrolls of any importance or value. So the report that Dahoud Musallam took a scroll of Jona or Ruth to America is apparently a fairy tale. Salameh Ahmad Salameh is a new friend to me and he has nothing to do with the scrolls. Muhammad Ed-Dheeb is Salameh’s brother-in-law (his sister’s husband). Sheikh Ali Subh is the owner of a taxicab office neighbouring Khalil Kando’s shop. Khalil Kando made him partner with him in all antiquities dealings following the scrolls transaction which proved of high value later on. Sheikh Subh, being a Ta’amreh Bedouin himself and a notable of them, would serve a good protector to Kando before his fellow Bedouins who started to demand a higher payment from Kando when they understood later that the scrolls were sold at a very high price. I would like to point out my personal view about mentioning “the Sheikh” in previous scholars writings to whom the Bedouins showed the scrolls in Bethlehem that it was not clear to the writers, for it is clear now that this Sheikh must be Ali Subh himself, and not a Sheikh of the mosque or any other Sheikh. As for publishing this new material, there is nothing to prevent it and there is no reason whatever to object to it. So you are free to do it. I enquired from Salameh about Jum’a’s full name, and he said that it was “Jum’a Muhammad Ahmad”. You might imagine then that the first people who contacted him and his cousin Ed-Dheeb about the scrolls seem to have quoted Jum’a’s last name instead of his full name. Yet I shall discover more about his correct name indirectly in the future when I meet him again through his identity card or any other official paper. The statement of Bulos, “you were not here” was meant of the Metropolitan and not of you [Trever]. Our last baby is a girl and the name we selected for her is “Alaria” born on May 1st., 1961. […] I cannot give you any reason about why Isha’ya and the Bedouins took the scrolls to sell them to Feidi Salahi and not to Samuel. Probably Samuel

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at the time was away in Syria. Anyhow I shall keep this in mind when I next meet Khalil Musa and try to get this clear from him. The recorder was stopped two or three times as far as I can remember during the interview because the Bedouins sometimes did not understand my questions, for their dialect differs a bit from our language. Then Salameh tried to repeat the question in their own dialect. At this point we stopped the recorder so as to save space in the tape. About Dr. Sukenik’s statement I think it is quite true. The suggestion of planning another meeting in the Yugoslave Consulate was my suggestion, because the kawas of that Consulate was my friend and was a Syriac and lived in the Consulate then for a temporary period. The Consulate was situated in Talbya quarter within the zone. Ed- Dheeb and Jum’a are originally shepherds. They have sons and brothers to take their place in tending their sheep, whenever some labour work occurs in Amman or elsewhere, where they would go to make some profit. As for you meeting them in [the] Summer when you come here, I think this is necessary. We shall go and visit them with Mr. Ayoub Musallam, the mayor of Bethlehem in their home. This will not cost anything. But, as it is custom, they will not let you go away without food. So you may, if you like, offer them something in form of a gift. Enclosed you find two enlarged pictures as you requested, and if not that means I will send them as printed matter by air-mail. I end my this letter with warmest regards from my family to you and your family. Yours truly, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

February 27, 1962

Dear Anton, […] I appreciate your helpful letter of January 24 and should have replied before now. […] The enlargements arrived and they are fine. They will be a helpful addition to the publication I am planning. Your answers to my previous questions are most helpful and strengthen the force of the evidence a good deal. I do hope you get a chance to interview Musa. The more independent testimonies we get the better it will be. It is grand that Mr. Docmac is helping compose the statements. I have written to thank him […] I am not quite clear about one of your statements. Is Muhammad Adh-Dhib the brother-in-law of Salameh because he married Salameh’s sister or because Salameh married Adh-Dhib’s sister? Do you know Sheikh Ali Subh? Is he one who might cooperate with an interview? Being close to Kando perhaps he is more difficult to approach for honest answers to questions from scholars. I gather his shop is right near the manger square, as Kando’s apparently is. This is surprising and reminds me that the evening I was trying to locate you in Bethlehem I sat in a taxi right in front of Kando’s shop (I did not know it then) discussing with a crowd of Arabs who gathered around how to get to the Syrian Church when one of the members offered to take me there. Perhaps it was one of Ali Subh’s taxis! Could you send me the Arabic script spelling of Ayoub Musallam and Jum’a Muhammad Ahmad? This will help me be consistent in my spellings in publication. Arrangements for my tour of the Middle East are now complete. So far 16 persons have made paid reservations. I shall be in Jerusalem on July 29 to stay until August 10. The tour is scheduled to visit Bethlehem Saturday afternoon, July 14, but I will be pretty well occupied with the care of the tour to do much else at that time. Incidentally if Adh-Dhib could be persuaded to meet the tour group one of those days, it would be much

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appreciated by my group. Also I would like to have them meet Ayoub Musallam and yourself if possible. I would like to add something special for the group. Several ministers are going with me… I am planning to take them to Qumran leaving Jerusalem at 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning, July 15. I must get busy preparing for my classes now, so I will have to sign off. Greetings to all of you including Alaria from all of us. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN March 18, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever, I acknowledge with thanks receipt of your last letter of Feb. 27, […] Khalil Musa is expected to come to Bethlehem very soon to sell his sheep products of butter and cheese, because this is the season for it, I have already made some arrangements of meeting him in a friend’s house, without Musa knowing it, where I intend to go and meet him and have an accidental talk with him and shall make sure of certain points of Jum’as and Mohd. Ed-Dheeb statement. I confess that had it not been for Mr. Docmac’s help in writing all the statements of Ed-Dheeb and Jum’a’s, it would be rather impossible for me to accomplish the task which you have so well praised, for you know my English is not so perfect. Muhammed Ed-Dheeb is married with Salameh’s sister. I know Sheikh Ali Subh very well, but I am afraid he would not be so cooperative with me, if I contacted him, Mr. Docmac however agreed to contact him and to try to get some truth out of him. If you would let us know what sort of questions you would like to ask him that we may direct them to him in due course. Although Mr. Docmac may not be more successful, yet we shall try. This is the Arabic script of Ayoub Musallam (‫)ﺍﻴﻭﺏ ﻤﺴﻠﻡ‬ This is the Arabic script of Jum’a Mohd. Khalil (‫)ﺠﻤﻌﺔ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺨﻠﻴل‬ On March 13, I met by chance, in the market place here, Jum’a Mohd. I took that opportunity of finding him by himself alone and invited him to supper in my home. We spent the evening together till late at night when I asked Jum’a several questions in the course of our conversation to confirm the statements made by him and his cousin Ed-Dheeb. Two important points are worth mentioning. The first is going to create a new name problem to you. He said that his name was Jum’a Muhammad Khalil, and not Ahmad. There was no Ahmad attached to his name. I asked to see his identity card, but he did not have it on him, and promised to show it to me later when he would next come to Bethlehem. (Ahmad) he said comes in the name of Ed-Dheeb whose full name is Muhammad Ahmad Ed-Dheeb. It was Salameh who added (Ahmad) to Jum’a’s name, without Jum’a’s

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awareness of that. The second point is the sale of the two scrolls by Jum’a and Khalil Musa to Faidi Salahi, it was quite natural, because the other scrolls were not yet sold to Samuel, but were still kept with Kando unsold. They did not know by that time that Samuel wanted all the scrolls. These [are] the two scrolls which were brought from cave I by Isha’ya and Khalil Musa without the knowledge of Ed-Dheeb and Jum’a. In my previous letter I mentioned to you about Jalil Elias Abu Sabha from Bethlehem, a close neighbour of Daud Musallam. This man gave a long statement about the scrolls, but the subject matter was the same as that of Ed-Dheeb and Jum’a. He added however that with the 1St. scrolls brought by Ed-De[e]b and Jum’a there was a monks Stole, green in colour; very carefully wrapped with pictures of palm trees drawn on it. Inside was a triangular iron spear. As soon as they opened the Stole to the open air, the stole was broken to pieces and turned into ashes. The spear was thrown away. He said that the reason of putting the scrolls with Daud Musallam for some time was that the latter dealt with Dead Sea stones and other articles and was a friend of Khalil Musa who brought the scrolls to him to be sold whenever a buyer was found. There was a man named Mahmoud Avghani of Jaffa who traded in Dead Sea stones and mother-of-pearl articles. This man was a good customer of Daud Musallam who came to buy new goods every now and then from him. Daud was waiting for Avghani to show him the scrolls, but Avghani did not come due to the prevailing disturbances then. So Musallam gave the scrolls back to Khalil Musa, saying he did not find any one to buy them. I am relating to you all this information which I gather from here and there for your further study, in case you can find any new value for your purpose of preparing any questions when you come in July to be directed to those persons who are available and who you can meet if you so wish. Awaiting your coming in Summer I send you our best regards from my family to yours. Yours Sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. March 8, 1962

Dear Anton, Your letter of March 18 arrived some tome ago, and I was again most grateful to you for its thorough and helpful information. […] Your good fortune in meeting the various persons who can help us check the early story about the scrolls is wonderful, and I appreciate your taking the time to follow through with conversations with them. It was grand of you to entertain Jum’a again and double check his story. That name situation continues to be plaguings. Incidentally, I would appreciate it if when you introduce a new name you could give it to me in Arabic script. This has proven very helpful to me. I need to have Dahoud Musallam’s first name in Arabic script, I see, to be sure of my transliteration. If Mr. Docmac could discuss the situation with Sheikh Ali Subh, that would be wonderful. It should give us further evidence. Here are some questions which would be good to get answered by him: 1. Do you remember when Jum’a Muhammad brought some old leather scrolls to show you? 2. What time of the year was it he came to you? 3. Where did this meeting take place? 4. Was Jum’a alone, or was someone else with him? 5. If so, do you know who was with him? Did you know him then? 6. Do you recall how many scrolls were shown to you? 7. Were the scrolls wrapped in anything? 8. How were the scrolls carried by Jum’a? 9. Did you examine the scrolls closely? 10. Did you recognize the language in which they were written, or did you suggest what language you thought they were? 11. Were the scrolls different sizes? 12. Did the scrolls appear to be different in color? 13. Why did you suggest to Jum’a that he take the scrolls to Kando? 14. Did Jum’a bring any other scrolls to you later that same year? 15. Would he like to mention anything else he remembers about his first interview with Jum’a about the scrolls?

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If Jum’a is right about saying that when he went with Khalil Musa to sell the scrolls to Feidi Salahi, then we have a new and very complex problem. This is inconsistent with both the taped interview and the previously recorded statement. I am glad to know that Jalil’s story tallies. Could you give me his name in Arabic script? Did he mention having seen Adh-Dhib, or from Khalil Musa and George Isha’ya? According to your statement, I am not sure which group of scrolls Jalil was talking about.—those brought first, or those brought later. The “green stole” story would seem to belong to Khalil Musa’s and George Isha’ya’s trip to the cave without Jum’a. If this is the case, then Jum’a would not know anything about the “stole”. If we could find out what time of year Dahoud Musallam was brought those scrolls, that might help, depending on how certain Jalil could be about it. I am compiling questions to ask the various persons you have contacted. By the time I meet them, I should have the problems so clearly in mind, it will be easier to figure out some of the discrepancies. We cannot expect, of course, that these people would remember everything with accuracy. In some respects I am surprised that we have found as much consistency in the stories as we have. This helps. […] Good luck on your interview with Khalil. And thanks again for your continued help in these interesting problems. May the Holy Season just ahead be blessed for you and your family. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN May 17, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever, Thank you for your letter of April 8, 1962 which arrived in time. […] In connection with the names and the complication which has been caused by their incoincidence from one person to another, I have acted as a C.I.D. (Criminal Investigation Dept.) and a Scotland Yard to get the truth. I have met Jum’a, Khalil Musa, Muhammad Edh-Dhib and others of their relatives who have not the least connection with the Scrolls, each by himself and without the knowledge of one about the other, and on different days. I am glad to say that my investigations have all coincided to one and the same result.1St. Muhammad Edh-Dhib is originally Muhammad Ahmad El-Hamed and is called Edh-Dhib (i.e. the Wolf) because his father was so fierce like a Wolf and was given that nickname. 2nd. When the scrolls story was published in the papers, Mr. Sa’d of the Palestine Museum in Jerusalem came to Bethlehem to ask Mr. Ibrahim Shawrieh, a Tamari bedouin and a friend who had some antiquity dealings with him. Shawrieh asked Ahmad Abd-El-Qadir, a relative of Edh-Dhib to inform Jum’a and Edh-Dhib to go to the Museum and meet Mr. Sa’d. So Edh-Dhib, Jum’a and Ahmad went together to meet Sa’d who took them to Mr. Harding to Amman, and it is very likely that the name (Ahmad) has come into the story through the interference of this man Ahmad Abd-El-Qadir. Now a word of explanation why, in the tape recording, Jum’a identified himself as Jum’a Ahmad. It was by the influence of Salameh, who told Jum’a to add Ahmad to his name to coincide with what has been published. Jum’a, being a simple man, consented to this. Dahoud Musallam’s name in Arabic script you will find enclosed on a separate piece of paper. Dahoud is the colloquial name of Da’ud which means “David”. The letter “h” is not found in the name originally, but is added only in colloquial. We arranged a visit yesterday with Mr. Docmac to the home of Sheikh Ali Subh, about two kilometers away from our house we found out that he was not the person I thought a partner of Kando. We found him an old simple man who could not remember any date about the scrolls or any description worth mentioning. He only said that Jum’a brought to him 3 scrolls which he called “books”, one larger than the other

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two. They were the colour of earth and not wrapped in anything when he brought them. But Jum’a had told him that originally they were wrapped in cloth and put in jars. Sheikh Ali Subh went with Jum’a to George Isha’ya and showed him the scrolls, but George, after examining them, said they were of no value. We asked him many questions about the subject adding to your own questions, but he could not give the answers, being so simple and illiterate. The man I thought the partner of Kando is really Sheikh Hasan, a cousin of Sheikh Ali Subh. I was mistaken in the name. I have met Khalil Musa twice. His story is exactly the same as Muhammad Edh-Dhib and Jum’a, with a slight difference that Sheikh Ali Subh and George Isha’ya together went with Jum’a to Khalil Kando’s shop to ask the latter to guarantee George Isha’ya for the amount of 5 Palestinian pounds to keep the scrolls with him until he could find someone to buy them. He also said that when he went to the cave later with Isha’ya they went to search for gold and not for more scrolls, because the 1St. scrolls were not yet sold to the Metropolitan Samuel. Please find enclosed a photo of Khalil Musa. Jalil’s full name is Jalil Elias Abu Sabha. You will find the Arabic script of his name also on a separate piece of paper. Jalil says that Khalil Musa brought the scrolls to Dahoud Musallam and not others. The scrolls were the first ones and not those brought later. Last week I paid a visit to our new Metropolitan in Jerusalem [Gregorius Boulos Behnam] who told me that Samuel’s autobiography was sent to him for perusal and correction, but the book has not yet been printed and published. He said that the American publishing companies refused to publish such religious book. I told the Metropolitan that I wanted to buy a copy in case the book was published, and that was his answer. I am on the look out to continue my enquiries which might be of some interest, whenever I meet again Khalil Musa or any other person concerned in our story which has connection with the scrolls, I shall let you know of my new findings in due course. My telephone number is 61 Bethlehem. This helps you to ring me up as soon as you arrive in Jerusalem. The telephone is in my shop not at home so you could contact me between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except lunch time from 12:00 to 1:00. I am quite aware, however, of the dates of your coming to Jerusalem and to Bethlehem. So I shall make the necessary arrangements about meeting Muhammad Edh- Dhib. With our best regards to your family from us all. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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1 – Khalil Musa 2 – Muhammad Ahmad El-Hamed 3 – Ibrahim Shawrieh 4 – Ahmad Abd-El-Qadir 5 – Dahoud (Daoud) Musallam 6 – Sheikh Ali Subh 7 – Sheikh Hassan 8 – Jalil Elias Abu Sabha

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‫ ﺨﻠﻴل ﻤﻭﺴﻰ‬- ١ ‫ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﻟﺤﻤﺩ‬-٢ ‫ – ﺍﺒﺭﺍﻫﻴﻡ ﺸﺎﻭﺭﻴﻪ‬٣ ‫ – ﺍﺤﻤﺩ ﻋﺒﺩ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﺭ‬٤ ‫ – ﺩﺍﻭﺩ ﻤﺴﻠﻡ‬٥ ‫ – ﺷﻴﺦ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺻﺒﺢ‬٦ ‫ – ﺸﻴﺦ ﺤﺴﻥ‬٧ ‫ – ﺟﻠﻴﻞ اﻟﻴﺎس اﺑﻮ ﺻﺒﺤﻪ‬٨

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

May 23, 1962

Dear Anton, I trust that the long silence since I last heard from you is an indication that your business has been prospering. At least this is what I should like to believe. Progress with my analysis of the taped interview is progressing slowly. Now I am having the Arabic studied by linguistic experts to gain their backing for whatever I publish in the future. The indications are that more details can be obtained from some parts than Mr. Docmac’s summary translation sometimes includes. The accuracy of his translation, however, has not been questioned. This possibility for scholarly analysis is one reason why a taped interview is so valuable. My main reason for writing just now is to ask if you can check for me on the availability of a portable, battery-powered tape recorder that I might rent while I am there July 30-August 10. Since you rented a tape-recorder once before, I am sure you would know where to check. What I would like to obtain is a “Webcor” transistorized batterypowered tape recorder. It is one of the finest made and does a grand job of recording. Since that is an American made model, perhaps it would not be found in Jerusalem. An excellent other possibility is the Norelco portable recorder that is battery operated. Perhaps there is another equally good model available. (The DeJur Grundig “Stenorette” battery model is also good.) If we were to use it under circumstances where no electricity is available, the battery model would be most important. It is important that it have a magnetic microphone for high-fidelity. A model that sells in the range of $75-$1501 would doubtless be high quality. If you could let me know what find of battery-operated model might be available to rent, then I could secure some tapes in advance to carry with me, both from the standpoint of baggage weight and probable difficulties I would have getting in and out of countries. Thus to rent one there would seem for better. If you find one is available, I would appreciate your 1

= $445-$890 in 2002.

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sending its name, model type, description and cost of rental for two weeks, If I have the description, I might be able to find one like it here and thus learn ahead of time about its operation. Looking forward to seeing you in July, and with sincere best wishes,… Cordially yours, John C. Trever

P.S. I will be with my tour in Jerusalem from July 12-15 with headquarters at the National Hotel. It is Maupintour #44.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

June 12, 1962

Dear Anton, Your letter of June 13 has just arrived, and I hasten to acknowledge it. Time is getting short for my departure. I shall leave Berea on June 27 and New York on the 29th. I failed to answer your letter of May 17th, partly because I had just written to you the day before it arrived, and also because I figured there was no urgency in view of my trip. I was most grateful to you for your information and for the photographs of Khalil Musa. This is a nice addition to the materials I have been collecting. […] Congratulations on the birth of Theodora. What a lovely family you have. Please convey my warm congratulations and that of my wife to your good wife. The names you have given the girls are lovely.1I trust that they will grow to be fine, creative girls who will help their country in many ways.

I see by the schedule just handed me that there is some uncertainty about which hotel will be our headquarters when my tour arrives in Jerusalem Wednesday evening, July 11. They list National or Sheperds or Ambassador. You can find out for sure from Mr. Awad Tourist Agency (Azzahra Street—Tel. 1021). Richard Awad is to be our guide. I see that I am to give a talk in the lounge of the hotel the evening of July 11 at 8:00 PM. If you are free, I would be happy to have you join us that evening. I would like to introduce you to the group. I believe I told you that we would visit Bethlehem Saturday afternoon, July 14. With best wishes to all of you, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

It was Gregorius Boulos Behnam, then Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem, who named Theodora. 1

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz

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John C. Trever and Mrs. John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. August 30, 1962

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz,1 The days since my husband returned from his journey have gone by so quickly, as we have been trying to get caught up on some of his correspondence, writing, etc. […] Sincerely yours, Mrs. John C. Trever

Dear Friends,

I will add a few lines to what my good wife has said, for I should have written to you before now. The days have sped past so rapidly since my return that I seem to have been away from the Holy Land for only a short while.

The gracious hospitality which you showed to me helped to make my trip most memorable. Your cooperation in my explorations with the Bedouins, Anton, was wonderful; and I am deeply indebted to you for the skilful and efficient way in which you carried out all the contacts. I was particularly delighted with the hour spent with Kando, if for no other reason than the delight of the occasion. In view of all the rapid-fire conversation that transpired, I am sure that there was much that you did not translate for me. If anything occurs from that conversation which you think might be helpful to me, please pass it along. I have not had time to digest all the interviews, particularly that one; so I may be sending a few more questions to you later. I do feel that we need to check further into the matter of whether or not Khalil Moussa was with Jum’a and Muhammad at the cave when the first discovery occurred. I have reviewed your letters of recent months and find no reference to this new development. Thus it came as a complete surprise to me. If you meet Jum’a alone some time, it might be well to check to see if he agrees that Khalil Moussa was with them. It all sounds plausible, but it needs more than just Khalil’s word to establish it. Most of my pictures came out quite well, and I shall be sending some to you later for various persons. 1

This is the first time that Elizabeth Trever writes to the Kirazes.

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You will be interested to know that I spent three hours with our “friend” Samuel on my return to New York. I decided to call him and see what would happen. He was quite cool at first but invited me to visit him, if “I would not discuss the DSS.” After 45 minutes of talk about St. Mark’s Monastery and various other items not associated with the DSS, he brought up the subject! He took me to lunch […]. Of course, I was very careful to avoid mention of seeing a certain A[nton].K[iraz]. which would have ended the conversation in a hurry. He complained mostly about having to pay $87,0001 income tax and even showed me the news article about his loss of the suit! It was quite a surprising visit, but I was very cautious. Now the next step should be for you to see him! […] Cordial best wishes to all of you, and thanks again, Sincerely, John C. Trever

1

= $583,145 in 2002.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

October 13, 1962

Dear Anton, Your letter of September 91 has been here for some time, but it is nonetheless appreciated. On returning home I had to plunge immediately into the work of setting up our Bible Convocation at the College. This delayed many other things I wanted to do. The Convocation was a great success, so it was worth all the effort. Today I am sending you by surface mail a box with six copies of my book, Cradle of Our Faith. You will remember that I discussed with you the possibility of your being a channel for distributing some of these in Jordan, either through the book stores or through direct contact. Unfortunately I have just discovered that these represent the last of this special edition which I can get for a very low price. These have listed at $3.002 and the other edition at $3.75. You would probably be wise to price these at J.D. 1.300 list price (or selling price) in case you continue with the other edition. The actual cost of these to me has been $1.05 plus whatever postage I must pay to get them to you. The other editions would probably cost me nearer $1.90, which is quite a difference. If, however, you are able to establish market, I shall try to work out an arrangement with the publishers to get as good or better a price than $1.90 for you. In the meantime, use these copies as you see fit, and forget about the cost. I will consider the cost to me as advertising expense, for establishing a market in Jordan would be very much worth such a cost. I do not want to make anything out of your distribution in Jordan anyway, for I would like this to be a benefit to you somehow. As you contact book dealers, keep in mind that future shipments may cost around $2.00 per copy, so set your price accordingly. It would seem to me that the book might bring J.D. 1.500 without difficulty there on the market.

1 2

There is no copy of this letter in Kiraz’s archive. $1 in 1962 = $5.94 in 2002.

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Enclosed are two color prints from pictures I took in August. Please give the one of the Shtwey children to Mrs. Shtwey at your convenience and the one of Ibrahim Ijha to him when you see him. I am happy to be able to send these for them. Oh yes, I also enclose a print of the picture you took of the Ta’amirah Sheikh and me. If he wants additional prints, I can send them. or if you would like one let me know. The close-up I took of him alone [c]ame out beautifully also. […] Mrs. Trever sends her best wishes and appreciation for you[r] wife[’s] nice note. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

October 16, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever, In my last letter I promised to send you the translation of what Kando said. I have not translated it at the time, because it was not to reply your questions, but a general talk. Kando was grieved because you [Trever] invited Muhammad Ed-Dib to the Municipality, and [Kando] said to me [Kiraz] [“Who is Muhammad Ed-Dib? Why did Dr. Trever not come to me?[”] I [Kiraz] replied to him [Kando] that the invitation to the Municipality was extended by Mr. A. Musallam, the mayor of Bethlehem, and Ed-Dib happened to be in Bethlehem on that day and was called to meet you [Trever]. He also was grieved from the Metropolitan because he did not send to Kando a few thousand pounds to pay those people concerned in the discovery of the scrolls and to me [Kando] also my share. He said the bedouins tried to bomb his house and wanted to kill him with his family, and to quiet them he had to pay them some money. When Bishop Samuel came from U.S. to Homs to attend the election and installation of the new Patriarch [Jacob III], Kando also went to meet Samuel and spoke to him about the matter of the Scrolls, but Samuel ordered him to keep quiet, or he would send him to prison. Kando was also grieved with Sha’ya because when Sha’ya went with Jum’a and Khalil Musa and other bedouins to the cave to search for new things, Kando paid them the expenses, and when Sha’ya left for America, Kando paid his travel expenses. This is of course what Kando said when you [Trever] met him. In my previous letter I wrote to you that I met Jum’a and asked him if Khalil Musa was present at the first discovery of the scrolls to which Jum’a replied yes. Later Muhammad Ed-Dib came twice to me and I enquired also about the same thing and he confirmed the fact again that Kh. Musa was there. I also gave him the Dinar you had left with me for him. He and Jum’a send you their best regards. […] Now I have to close with best wishes from my family to your family and remain Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

November 11, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever, I thank you for your last letter dated October 13, 1962, which I received in due time. One day before I received it, I had sent you a reply to your previous letter which I hope you got it also. I thank you for sending six copies, by surface mail, of “Cradle of Our Faith”1 which I will try to sell to some friends here.

[…] Ibrahim Ijha and the Ta’amarieh Sheikh, and they thank you for them and send you their greetings. I remember you took a coloured picture of our daughter Guita if it turned out good, I appreciate receiving a copy. […] I close with best wishes from my family to your family and remain Your ever sincere friend, Anton Kiraz

1 J. C. Trever, Cradle of Our Faith, A Pictorial Journey Through The Holy Land (United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1954). The copy is signed by the author, “with the compliments of John C. Trever.”

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

December 8, 1962

Dear Dr. Trever,

I already sent you two letters during Nov. 1962. This is my third one to introduce to you a small scroll brought to me by the same man who sold you the fragments for two dinars when you were here. I am sending it enclosed herewith that you may examine it and estimate its real value. There is a similar scroll which the man possesses, but this is 6 cm. shorter. The owner would not give me the second one, before he receives your answer about the first. The history of these two scrolls, according to their owner, is that they were discovered near Herod hill, in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem some fifty years ago. They were found by chance while digging in the land. If however, you are interested to know more about the history, I shall enquire later on and let you know about them.

But one thing struck me. The moment I saw them I remembered the scrolls which I once possessed in 1947. As Christmas is drawing near we wish you and your dear family merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year 1963. I am awaiting your early answer about the scrolls. Before I end this letter you will be interested to know that I have taken a photo of the twin scroll which cost me one dinar. In case it is sold, you may get with our best regards from house to house. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. December 19, 1962

Dear Anton, Just today I have completed my analysis of all the interviews of the past twelve months and have prepared a statement to present at the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis National meeting in New York next week. Friday, December 28, about 3:30 p.m. At that time, I shall also play a five minute section of the interview tape with Muhammad Ahmad elHamid and his cousin, Jum’a Muhammad Khalil. I shall use the section near the end of “adh- Dhib’s” part and the beginning of Jum’a’s in order to give the scholars a bit of each. Time will only permit five minutes to be used, for there are many papers scheduled for presentation (53 altogether!). I thought I would send a carbon of my address to you, so you can see the results of my analyses. Of course, in the light of the brief time I will have for the presentation, I have condensed it mainly to the essentials. A few questions have appeared in the process of compiling this that ought to be addressed to Jum’a, id the opportunity ever arises. They are as follows: 1. Why were you climbing up by the cave when you first noticed the two holes? Were you looking for something? 2. Was it the very next morning after you first saw the holes that Muhammad adh-Dhib entered the cave without your knowing it and found the manuscript? (In the interview tape M. a-D. says it was three days later! Khalil Musa said it was the next day.) 3. Did your flocks consist of both sheep and goats? 4. Did Khalil Musa go with you to Bethlehem when you took the three scrolls to Ibrahim ‘Ijha? (The tape says Jum’a alone, but Khalil says he was with Jum’a.) 5. After leaving with the scrolls from ‘Ijha’s shop later, did you accidentally meet Sheikh Subh in the Bethlehem market place, or did you deliberately go to his home with George Isha’ya? 6. Was Khalil Musa with you when you met George Isha’ya that day? 7. When you and Khalil Musa took George Isha’ya to show him the cave, did you take anything from the cave?

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8. Do you remember how many scrolls you had with you when you went the first time to St. Mark’s Monastery in Jerusalem and you were not admitted? 9. Did you see Father Bulos, the priest at St. Mark’s at that time? 10. Were the three scrolls sold to Faidi Salahi for 7 poundP before the scrolls were sold to Kando (and Metropolitan Samuel) or after? About how much time separated the two sales? 11. Was Muhammad adh-Dhib with you at the time you saw the two holes that entered the cave? Some of these questions are for double-checking certain points, others are to try to clear up little inconsistencies that have appeared. At least I cannot find Jum’a’s testimony for these points. I am confident that the basic story is now correct, except for some details, and I know I am deeply indebted to you for helping to get all this data together. I will let you know how I come out in the presentation in New York. Merry Christmas to all of you. Cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

January 5, 1963

Dear Anton, Not having heard from you in response to my letter of December 8 […] I have decided to write again just in case something has happened to waylay that letter. I am especially concerned in view of the fact that one of our students who is helping at the Friends School in Ramallah has written to say that several of the letters she has been receiving have been opened by the Jordanian Censors. […] I carried the small leather document you sent to New York with me last week and discussed its nature with two of the leading Hebraists, and they confirmed my judgement exactly. It is a Kabbalistic “charm” document used by humble Jewish families to protect them from evil. It is the Jewish counterpart of the Arab blue beads and icons used to ward off evil. It is suspected that this might have come from one if the Jewish homes that was captured by the Arabs during the 1948 conflict. Its origin is quite modern, obviously. The language is very cryptic, as I suggested. As for value, I doubt it would bring even as much as $101 as a curiosity. It would not even be classified as an “antiquity.” I will not return it to you now but await your instructions about what to do with it. One of the persons who examined it showed some interest in having it in his collection but would not offer much. I am not sure he would give even $10 for it, however.

I decided to try having prints made of the two pictures I accidentally damaged last summer and enclose a print of each for you. I am not happy about the results, but I guess they are not impossible. Perhaps you would like to give Khalil Musa one of his when you meet him again. Please apologize to him for me for the poor quality, for it is far from my photographic standard. The paper I presented in New York [SBL meeting] with a portion of the tape recording seems to have been well received, and I believe the reaction is that the matter is pretty much settled. I am being urged to 1

In 2001 = $55.

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publish the results, and I hope that can be accomplished soon. I have about decided to incorporate it in my book now, since that has been delayed. […] Happy New Year to all of you,

Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

January 12, 1963

Dear Dr. Trever, Many thanks for your letters dated Dec. 8, 1962, Dec. 17, 1962, Dec. 19, 1962 and Jan. 5, 1963. The reason of my delay in answering is really I had to wait to see Jum’a who has not come to Bethlehem for the last month being in the Jordan Valley with his flocks. I used to go every day to the market, hoping to see him, but he only appeared this morning. I did not like to send especially for him, so that he may not claim a recompense for his leaving his work to some and see me. When I met him, however I invited him for a cup of coffee in my shop and in a diplomatic way during our conversation, I had all answers to your questions which I still give in a while. […]1 Believe me dear Mr. Trever it was the best Christmas we have ever spent since 1948, when we had to leave our home in occupied Jerusalem. […]2

Now we come to your questions: 1. Jum’a says it all happened by chance, he was not looking for anything. 2. Jum’a says it was not the next day that Ad-Dhib entered the cave, because that day was the due time to lead their flocks to Ain Fashkha to supply them with water, as it is their custom to supply their flocks on alternate days, not every day. So he says not before the third day that AdDhib entered the cave. 3. Yes, the flocks consisted of both sheep and goats. 4. Jum’a went alone without Khalil Musa. 5. He met Sheikh Subh accidentally, while he was with G. Isha’ya discussing the scrolls in the market place. 6. When Jum’a and Isha’ya and Subh went together to see Kando to guarantee Isha’ya, it happened that Khalil Musa saw them in Kando’s shop and joined them. 7. They did not take anything from the cave. 8. They had three scrolls only.

1 2

Kiraz explains the dire situation of the family in Bethlehem. Continuation of grievances.

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9. Jum’a couldn’t differentiate the priest from the Metropolitan. So he did not know whether it was this or the other. 10. Yes, they were sold before about 3-8 weeks. 11. No ad-Dhib originally was not there, but Jum’a summoned him soon after he had thrown down the stones into the cave through the upper hole. The man who brought to me the leather document I have posted to you requested me to ask you to send it back immediately. […] C/F. Enclosed please find a letter from Guita.

Your address in New York seems quite excellent. I have read it with Mr. Docmac who also appreciated your accurate investigations. There is one point which I would like to correct in your statement about Daud Musallam that he is not the brother but the cousin of Ayoub Musallam. Now I close with many thanks for your true friendship, and our best wishes to you and yours and I remain ever Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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K-62 This letter was sensored with the “charm” and received it after 16 months approximately.1 John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

Mr. Anton Kiraz

February 4, 1963

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letter of January 12 which I should have answered before now. These past weeks, unfortunately, have been overly crowded, so that much has gone undone. My main effort has been to complete the book on which I have been working for so many years. Right now it is in process of another thorough revision to try to make it acceptable to a publisher. I am having my difficulties in that regard, thus I have to keep working hard at it and try several different publishers. I am very hopeful that this time I will have more success. Part of the problem seems to be the fear of publishers to publish the truth regarding the scrolls after so many years of misinformation. Let’s hope this time there is success. Thanks to you, I am able to incorporate much new information into this new draft. I have woven all the new material gleaned from the many interviews and your helpful letters into chapter XII now, so I hope the next publisher will be duly impressed. Enclosed is the Jewish “charm” which you requested I return. I might have secured a buyer for it for about $10.00,2 but that would be the best I could do. It really has very little value – only curiosity. […] It was foolish of me not to take another [picture] when I visited you last summer. I guess I was just thinking too much about the Bedouins! […]. Thank you so much for getting the additional answers to questions from Jum’a. As usual the answers raise a few more questions, but I guess we will always find some inconsistencies in their stories. In the main, I believe we have the best possible information. It is good that we have secured all this information while it was possible for you to get it. Perhaps your new opportunity will take you away from the source. I am certainly grateful for all the help you have provided, and I sincerely hope that some 1 2

Hand-written note. = $59 in 2002.

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day the results form my book will enable me to express my appreciation in a concrete way. It takes so long to get a job like this to a point where it produces something other than expenses. Patience is a basic virtue required by a writer. Please give my greetings to your good wife and Guitta.

Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

John C. Trever

February 20, 1963

Dear Dr. Trever, I don’t know if you received my last letter dated 12.1.63 if not let me know, I can send you a copy of it, because I was waiting for its answer before now, not according to me, but according to the bedwins. You find enclosed a photo of our family, and I think you know them all personally, so you can introduce us to Mrs. Trever and to your nice boys.

[…] I end my letter with m best wishes to you and Mrs. Trever and your children, and special regards from Mrs. Kiraz to the same nice persons. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

February 28, 1963

Dear Anton, Your letter of February 20 arrived today, and we are most pleased to receive the lovely photograph of your whole family. It is certainly a fine portrait. Photographers in Jordan certainly do a fine job. It is a picture of which you can be justly proud. […] It is disturbing to me to learn that you have not received my letter of February 41 which should have arrived long before you sent yours of the 20th. I used a heavier type envelope and wrapped the “charm” in thin paper very carefully. As I recall I put $.752 postage on the envelope to cover the cost. air mail. Why don’t you check at the Behtlehem Post Office about it, for it should have arrived about February 9, certainly no later than February 11, to judge by the way mail is getting through regularly these days.

[…] If you meet Khalil Musa one of these days you might ask him the following questions: 1) Was he with Jum’a when he left the first scrolls with Ibrahim ‘Ijha? 2) Did he go back to the cave (alone or with Isha’ya) again after securing the four scrolls, three of which were sold to Faidi Salahi 3) Did he sell any other manuscripts to Faidi Salahi at a later time? Say, in November or December, 1947? 4) Did he go with Khalil Kando to the cave? Did they get anything from the cave at that time? 5) Did he enlarge the opening to the cave before or after they took the first scrolls to the Syrian Monastery in Jerusalem? 6) Did Muhammad adh-Dhib go with them to Jerusalem when they took the first scrolls to the Syrian Monastery? 7) Was Muhammad adh-Dhib with them during any of the attempts to sell the manuscripts in Bethlehem? 1 2

See censorship note on top of K-62. = $4.41 in 2002.

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8) Did Khalil Musa see Father Bulos at the time they visited the Syrian Monastery? 9) Did Khalil Musa show any other scrolls or fragments to Da’ud Musallam besides the four he mentioned? Incidentally do you know whether George Isha’ya visited the cave in the summer of 1948, shortly after the second truce which was established about July 18? I am having quite a debate with Mar Samuel over some fragments which he still possesses and which he at one time claimed had been secured by someone from the St. Mark’s Monastery “in November of 1948,” but now he claims these fragments were secured in 1947! I have evidence to show that these fragments were in Samuel’s hands on September 1, 1948, and I am trying to establish their origin. I feel certain that he did not have them when I was in Jerusalem, for he would certainly have shown them to me. Did George say anything about having secured additional fragments when you were with him at the Jordan Monastery together? That was in the fall of 1948, after you returned from Beirut. Thanks again for all your fine help in unravelling the story of the scrolls. Please give our best wishes to your good wife. She looks fine in the photograph. We trust her health is much better. May God guide you in your future plans. Most sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

March 20, 1963

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter of Feb. 28th arrived in time, and I wonder why your dispatch of Feb. 4th did not arrive here at all. I have checked here at the Bethlehem Post Office, and they told me that it occurs sometimes that letters addressed to Bethlehem, Jordan, are sent by mistake, to Israel or even to South Africa and Pennsylvania, U.S.A. where there are places also called Bethlehem. This might happen by those who sort out the letters. It could be necessary therefor that you check at your end, and see if the letter were not returned to sender due to such a mistake being made.

Your questions to Khalil Musa, although I can answer most of them myself, yet I am waiting to see him come to Bethlehem and have him give the answers. He seldom comes to Bethlehem, not like Jum’a, but he may come during this season of cheese-making to sell some cheese. I did not like to delay this letter any longer, but shall write again as soon as I see Khalil and get the correct answers from him. When I came back from Beirut and met George Isha’ya at the Jordan Monastery I remember that Isha’ya had told me he visited the cave, but due to the hot weather, they could not work and dig out anything from the cave. But if we come through the hall story and my meetings with the Bedwuins, shows that Isha’ya went a number of times to the cave during the end of 1947 and in 1948. And in every visit to the cave he was going with different person, sometimes with Khalil and Jum’a, once with father Yusef1 and etc. Isha’ya however lived in St. Marks from late 1947 to 1954, as a refugee from Katamon. So when Samuel says the fragments were secured by someone from St. Marks, he means of course Isha’ya. […] Mrs. Kiraz and the children are well and send you and your their best regards. Guita is well at school and sends you her love and thanks for all you have done for her.

My best wishes to you and your dear family. Yours very sincerely, Anton Kiraz 1

A monk at St. Mark’s.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. March 31, 1963

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letter of March 20. I regret the fact that my letter of February 4 has not yet been found. I have provided our local postmaster with a full description of the letter, and am urging him to make a full check on it from this end. […] I will repeat most of the letter which I enclosed, so you will have its content anyway: [See K-62] Thanks for the additional information about your relations to George. That is helpful testimony. […] We all send our warm regards and sincere best wishes to all of you.

Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

April 24, 1963

Dear Dr. Trever,

I acknowledge with thanks your last letter of march 31, 1963. Your request at your post office to check on your letter of February 4 has resulted in the fact that I was summoned here by the postmaster and was questioned by him about the contents of the letter to which I answered that I did not know anything about the contents because I did not receive that letter, and I was asked to sign that evidence. Of course the owner of the “Charm” comes to me every now and then to enquire of what had happened, and I related to him the facts about it, and asked him to wait until we get more information.

[…] Now we come to your questions in your letter of February 28, 1963. Khalil Musa came to Bethlehem on April 18, and I met him in my shop. He asked me to convey to you his greetings, as he left for Mecca on hi[s] religious pilgrimage together with Jum’a. His answers to your questions are as follows: 1. Yes, he was with Jum’a when he left the 1St. Scrolls with I. Ijha. 2. He went back to the cave with Isha’ya. 3. No, he did not sell other manuscripts to Faidi Salahi. 4. No, he never went with Kando to the cave, for the latter never visited the cave. 5. He enlarged the opening to the cave after they took the first scrolls to the Syrian Monastery, that is when he went the second time with Isha’ya, carrying the necessary tools for the purpose. When he went with Isha’ya the first trip, they had no tools with them. 6. No, M. Adh-Dhib did not go with them. 7. No, he was not. 8. He saw a priest there, but he did not know who he was. 9. No, he did not. With all good wishes to you and your family from us all. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

June 26, 1963

Dear Anton, It was a delight to receive the letter from your daughter [Guita] yesterday, and I was much impressed by the improvement of her English ability. I am glad she is making such fine progress. I shall try to enclose a note to her with this letter before finish. I know you are concerned about the tracing of the letter which I mailed on February 5 [sic, read: 4] to you, and I sincerely regret that I have no good news to report. In the midst of the pressure of the close of our academic year, I received a final report from the U.S. Post Office Department about their investigation, and they indicate that they had no luck. I have decided to send you their report, however, so that you will have some concrete evidence that we have put forth effort to trace the letter. This may help you in handling the matter with the Bedouins. I deeply regret that this situation developed as it did, and I was fearful of it from the beginning when the document first arrived. You will recall that I expressed concern about it in my letter of reply many months ago. I do not know what else can be done about the situation, for there seems to be no trace of the letter or the document. I continue to hold some suspicion that it might have gotten into censorship channels in Jordan, but of course I have no proof. It would indeed be unfortunate id this were the case, but such things do happen. I hope you have been able to convince the Bedouins from my earlier letters that the document has very little value, if any, though I realize this is a difficult thing for you to [d]o, in view of their lack of knowledge. The question is whether or not they are willing to accept my judgment. There is not question in my mind about the matter, but the problem is how to convince them. I am terribly sorry that this has happened, but I am helpless to do anything further about it. If you come up with any suggestions, please let me know. I trust that Gitta has had a fruitful year at Talitha Kumi [School]. […] Please give our warm regards to your family, and thank you again for your helpfulness in securing so much information form the

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Bedouins for me. I hope that soon my book will be in the process of publication, but I do not have any good news as yet. I appreciate the additional answers which you enclosed in your letter of April 24. These again have been helpful.

[…] In a recent report from Jerusalem, the name of Muhammd adh-Dhib was given as Muhammd adh-Dhib Hassan by Dr. Lapp, the director of the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem. I have written to him about this, for I am puzzled. Muhammd adh-Dhib recently helped him in the excavation of a cave near Nablus, and thus they must have been together. […] With cordial best wishes and kind regards,

Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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K-69

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

August 27, 1963

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter of June 26, 63 has arrived long ago. I am sorry of delaying the answer till now. Let me say first that you have enjoyed in your trip to several places in U.S.A. […] About that small leather of the bedouins, I think just forget all about it, I will arrange it here with them. […]

Since I received your last letter I could not see the Mohd. Edd Dheeb, when I first I see him, I will investigate the matter of his name, and from where he brought Hassan. […] I end my letter with sending you our best wishes to all of you. Your’s truly, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. May 30, 1964

Dear Anton, I regret my failure to answer your letter of February 15 which I appreciated receiving, and now your letter of May 12 has been here several days.1 […] The main problem has been my book which has been delayed because of problems with the publishers. It has been a very distressing situation, but last Wednesday I went to New York and settled all the final details that were bothering them. Actually the publishers have been afraid that Mar Athanasius Samuel might cause trouble over the story as I am telling it, so we have been having the text carefully scrutinized by two attorneys. At last every detail is carefully handled and we are now ready to roll. There is a bare possibility that the book will be out by December, but it is more likely now that it will take a few more months than that. This legal editing has taken four months. The rest of the editing should not take very long. […] It is wonderful of our wife to send a dress for Mrs. Trever. She is delighted, but hopes it has not been a burden for your wife, especially in view of her illness. We shall look forward to receiving it when Doris gets home in August.

[…]

I must stop now and get to work on college papers, for the close of the quarter is near. Please give my best wishes to your good wife and Guitta.

With warm regards,

Cordially yours, John C. Trever

P.S. Did you ever check Muhammed adh-Dhib’s identity card? Paul Lapp of the ASOR has given it as Muhammad adh-Dhib.

1

There is no record of this letter.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

July 10, 1964

Dear Anton, Last week I spent two days in Westwood, New Jersey, working with the Fleming H. Revell Co. who are going to publish my book. We were trying to be sure that the manuscript is in good shape for the press. Now I am doing a final editing check, and, of course, a number of items come to my attention. The book has been given the title The Case of the Dead Sea Scrolls, by the publishers. I still like my title, Adventures with Manuscripts; but they have the right to choose their own.1 One point of conflict came to my attention this morning, and I need a statement from you to clarify it; for it might be a cause for discrediting your testimony, I feel. In the official publication of the Hebrew University Scrolls, The Dead Sea Scrolls of the Hebrew University, Dr. E.L. Sukenik says, “Mr. Kiraz admitted that his scrolls had been found in a cave north-west of the Dead Sea. He had lately visited the place with the Beduin, he said, and added some details about the cave and what could still be found in it. He even suggested that I meet him at the Potash Works at the north end of the Dead Sea and from there accompany him to the cave to inspect its remaining contents for myself.” (Page 15) According to my records, you had not visited the cave at the time you met Dr. Sukenik. With which Bedouin did you go, if Dr. Sukenik’s statement is correct? About when did you go? What did you see? I need to get this matter clarified. If this statement is correct you should be able to help me with one very knotty problem. Was the lower entrance to the cave (Jum’a, you may recall, described it as only large enough for a cat to enter) enlarged at the time you saw it? Khalil Musa’s testimony was a bit confusing at that point. Perhaps your statements to me were referring to your relation to the story at the time of the clandestine excavation in November of 1948 and not to what had happened in 1947.

1

The book appeared under the title The Untold Story of Qumran.

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Another point seems still to plague me: Did you ever examine Muhammed Edh-Dhib’s identity card? I know you did for Jum’a, but I find no evidence for the other. The name “Hassan” persists in writings emanating from the A.S.O.R. I wrote to Dr. Paul Lapp about the matter, but his wife answered very vaguely. They seemed somewhat uncertain but not very anxious to clarify the matter. Apparently you have not met EdhDhib since I wrote about this matter a year ago. Do check it if you get a chance. I am using Muhammed Ahmed el-Hamid. [space] […] I must dash to get this off and make a dental appointment. We look forward to seeing the girls and getting their first-hand reports. And thanks again for your kindnesses to them. Greetings to all your lovely family, and especially Gitta.

Best wishes,

Your friend, John C. Trever

P.S. I hope you can answer this letter soon; we hope to get the book in press shortly.

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K-72 John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz July 15, 1964

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter of July 10 arrived today while I was on my way to post you my letter which is enclosed, after reading your letter above mentioned. I find to answer to your last letter too and send both of them together. Coming to what Dr. E. L. Sukenik says about the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Hebrew University, and about what I admit to him I can say as follows: I never said to Dr. E. L. Sukenik that I visited the cave myself, when I showed him the Scrolls at the Y.M.C.A., he asked me form where are these scrolls, I said they have been found near the Dead Sea threw the bedouins, and I did not suggest to him to go to the cave, that was his suggestion, and I mentioned him the place of the cave, according to what I heard from the Metropolitan Samuel at that time. Since your first inquiry about Muhammad Ed Deeb, I never seen him, but soon I received your letter today, I made inquiry about his right name from his relatives in Bethlehem, they all said no Hassan, any how if you think is urgent and important to see him let me know, I will go and see him personally and check his identity card. Sincerely Yours, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

July 15, 1964

Dear Dr. Trever, Your nice detailed letter of May 30, arrived long ago. […]

We wish that your mother is now having good rest in her new home in Hollywood, we pray for her form our hearts, I know how good sons takes care for there old people. I am in the same trouble since 1944 with my mother, which for the last three years she is in bed and she cannot move at all, when we need to take her to the hospital sometimes, we carry her on a chair and put her in the taxi to take her to the hospital when is required, my father too is an old man of 70 years, which he passed all his life working very hard, I mean with the word of hard, carrying heavy things for sale to get his family’s daily bread, of course now since we are refugees, he has no work too, and I am taking full care of them, and this is the main reason of my weakness in life, but this is our first duty to look after them. So God takes care to us.

It seems you have had a lot of troubles for your book with the publishers, I am sure it is going to be the best book published till now, with a true story about the Dead Sea Scrolls, so it worth to have some troubles. […] I really met Mrs. Buckey and Mrs. Greene1 at the St. Georges Hostel, and I took them one day to Jericho Area, and one day to Bethlehem and Hebron Area. I hope they were satisfied from these two journeys. I wish I could be more useful to them, but as you know my difficult circumstances. I hope in future I can do my full duty toward everyone. I think you will receive the dress of Mrs. Trever before this letter, and Mrs. Kiraz was very glad that she could do this humble present to Mrs. Trever, we hope it fits to her nicely, and this material is from India, happened that a friend of mine went to India, and I asked him if he finds a nice material to bring me, the material gives different colours when she moves specially at night. Enclosed you find some pictures which has been taken at Alaria’s birthday.

1

Friends of Trever who were on a tour in the Holy Land.

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Since you required in your letter about Mohd. Ed Deeb’s name I did not see him, because he does not come to Bethlehem like his other relatives, it is in my mind soon I see him I will find out from him personally. And I will ask about the reason of giving him such added name, but if you are in a hurry, let me know, I will go and see him. So I end my letter with our warmest regards to every member of your family. Sincerely Your’s Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan July 23, 1964

Dear Dr. Trever, I am following you this letter with some pictures, I saw Mohd. EdDheeb last Saturday, on the 18th. July, after sending you my letters of the 15th. July, in the market of Bethlehem. I invited him to my house and asked him to show me his identity card, but it was not with him, he said it is at home, and said I am staying in Bethlehem for 3 days then I will go and bring it to you, because his wife and 4 daughters were also in Bethlehem by Salameh’s house, you know Salameh, and also he said that their tents are just after Bethany 500 meters on the main road to Jericho. Then I remembered that when I took Mrs. Buckey and Mrs. Greene down to Jericho, I stopped for them and told them that these tents are original tents of the bedouins, but I did not know that these tents belong to Mohd. EdDheeb. If you will remind them, and tell them that the Greek Orthodox church which you visited in Bethany on your way back from Jericho, Kiraz stopped for you just after 500 meters of that church on your way to the Dead Sea and you took some pictures of the bedouins tents, if you like you can see Dheeb’s tents. I told to Mohd. Ed-Dheeb, when you will decide to go pass to me I will take you in my car, he was pleased, and after 3 days on Tuesday the 21 of July he came with his wife and 4 daughters in the afternoon, and I took my 3 daughters with me, and we went to their tents, just after about 500 meters from Bethany, and we stayed around one hour, we had coffee and tea while we were sitting Mohd. Ed-Dheeb took off his identity card from between their baggage in the tent and gave it to me. I checked his identity card and his name in the identity card as follows: Muhammed Ahmad El-Hamid, exactly as it is mentioned in your letter dated July 10. The file and serial No. of his identity card is 5941/218342 issued on 23.10.1956 from Bethlehem Dept. After checking, I asked him, why Dr. Paul Lapp add (Hassan) to your name when you worked with him in Nablus Area. He said I don’t know anything about it, it seems he made a mistake with another employee may be, but he makes sure, he never gave a wrong name to Dr. Lapp or to any other person.

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You find six pictures and are numbered, these are only from remembrance and may be you can use something of them. I made this letter a bit long which was not necessary, first reason I don’t have new news to write the second a detailed letter about Mohd. Ed.Dheeb’s name. I hope this will be useful to you and warmest regards to every member of your family. Your’s Truly Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio, 44017 U.S.A. August 27, 1964

Dear Anton, I have delayed answering your good letters of July 15 and 23rd partly because I have awaited the return of Mrs. Greene and Doris McBride. […] Mrs. Greene was delighted to hear about the interesting coincidence of Edh-Dhib’s tents! That is really quite amazing, and I do appreciate the fine pictures which you sent - also the pictures of Alariya’s birthday party, etc. It was grand of you to check on the identity card, and I have immediately included it in a footnote, though the publishers are not happy about my making any changes now. They are now engaged in their final editorial work, and I guess such things make their work more difficult. Any way, I have included it. Mrs. Greene and Mrs. Buckey were certainly grateful to you for all you did for them. They have been most generous in their expressions of gratefulness for your fine help. I too want to thank you for what you did, for it helped fulfill my hopes for their trip— and the personal contact made them feel so much more at home.

[…] Thanks again for all your help with the Bedouins and merchants and others in connection with my book, and many thanks to your wife for her efforts on the dress. May God bless all of your lovely family. Faithfully yours, John C. Trever P.S. Please thank Gitta for her lovely letter too. We do so appreciate her writing so nicely and congratulate her on her successful completion of the 4th year. We all send our love to her.

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K-76

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

Dear Dr. Trever,

October 8, 1964

I received your letter dated Aug. 27, 1964 at the first of Sept., […] You will be surprised if I will tell you that I received your letter dated Feb. 4, 1963 just two days ago with the Jewish “Charm” it was by the military headquarters censor political section. But already I paid the bedouins 5 J.D. long ago, because you know them, first I didn’t like to make them as enemies, second I thought we might need them in future, I don’t know when I see them and tell them to repay me the amount and give them the charm, but I don’t think they will accept. […] Our love to every member of your family and good night. Your’s Truly Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. October 31, 1964

Dear Mrs. Kiraz, It is with considerable expectation during the past few months that I have awaited the arrival of your lovely gift to me. It arrived just a few days ago from Pittsburgh. […] What a lovely piece of material the dress is made of, and it fits me so beautifully (just from the measurements I sent to you)! You have done such a lovely piece of work on the sewing of the dress, and it is easy to see that you are a very fine seamstress. I shall wear the dress with pride. The colors in the fabric are lovely, and so unusual because of the changeable nature of the material. It was most thoughtful of you to spend so many hours sewing for me, and I sincerely appreciate it. The dress fills a real need for me, and I shall hope to wear it on November 19th when I play a harp program for a club in the Berea area. Thank you so very much for your wonderful gift to me. […] I am sure my husband will want to add a few words to this letter, so I shall leave some room for him to write. Best wishes. Sincerely yours, Mrs. John C. Trever

Dear Mrs. Kiraz,

How wonderful of you to send such a lovely gift to my wife! Ashkurik1 is all I can say to express my feeling in your language. (Then I probably have not spelled it right!) The goods which you used for the dress are certainly exquisite, and your skill in sewing is everywhere apparent. More than all, however, we appreciate the love which prompted your lovely work. […] Thanks again for your most thoughtful and king gift, and with continued best wishes, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

November 5, 1964

Dear Dr. Trever,

I am sending you on the occasion of Guita’s birthday three pictures which we look last Sunday, while her birthday it should have been on the 8th. of Nov., but because she will be in the school we always do it the nearest date of her birth which she will be at home. On Oct. the 25th. Sunday Mr. & Mrs. Shinn1 were here with us in Bethlehem all day, and in our conversation we mentioned you and your family several times. I am going to take them to Nablus area the first Sunday they be free from duty, they will let me know this in few days. Last Thursday I & Mr. Docmac were in prison from 8:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. next day, for we had an accident near King Salomon’s pool at 5:20 p.m. on the said Thursday, while Mr. Docmac was driving his car, and the accident caused for a young Moslem girl aged 14 years, her both legs were broken above knee and below knee six different broke, really we thought that she is dead at the time, but when we took her in the car to take her to the hospital in Bethlehem, on the way she started to shout my legs, then we knew that she is still alive. I end my letter with our best wishes to you and your family. Your’s Truly Anton Kiraz

Friends of the Trevers, and later Mr. Shin became the Godfather of Kiraz’s son, George. 1

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. 44017 December 13, 1964

Dear Anton, Forgive my delay in answering your two recent letters, but there has been little time for correspondence during our Fall quarter which just ended today. I have been teaching a class in Greek for the first time, which has greatly complicated my schedule with its usual pressures. I very much wanted to get a letter off in time to anticipate Guita’s birthday, but I failed. I hope she will forgive me. […] I was amazed to learn that the “charm” has showed up at last. It confirmed my suspicions! I would not mind having it, so hold on to it until the next time I visit there (perhaps in 1966), or let Mr. Shinn bring it to me. […] I gave an illustrated address last Friday evening at the Church of the Covenant in which I showed pictures of Bethlehem, including a picture of your family. I told them that I was sharing their contribution to my expenses with you, and they were pleased. Mrs. Trever is working right now on a detail of the dress your wife made for her, so she can wear it for several occasions this next week. The hem needed a little adjustment. It is certainly a lovely dress, and she is eager to wear it. […] I was sorry to hear about your misfortune with Mr. Docmac. I do hope the Arab girl has recovered satisfactorily. Our problems in this country with heavy traffic are very serious, for thousands of people are killed each year on our highways. It is a concern to all. With our long high-speed freeways, it has become particularly serious. I am so pleased about the nice things you have done for the Shinns. They are such a fine young couple. We recently distributed a nice newsletter which they sent. It was very well written and mentioned their appreciation of all you did for them.

The fate of my book has caused me great impatience, but I guess I just have to tolerate it. The publishers have decided to call it The Case of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The reason for the latest delay is good news, however, as the following quote from their last letter indicates: We are now thinking of publishing this book in a large impressive format comparable with that of some of the other books that are definitive in their field. We had previously planned to group all the illustrations for economy’s sake, but we’re now thinking of spreading approximately 21

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black and white illustrations throughout the text in addition to four 4-color two-page tips, making this the kind of book for reference, libraries, and gift use that would have outstanding appeal. The result is that it will be delayed until about September of 1965! Let’s hope that nothing else happens to delay it. Since I have more time, I am going to check a few more items in the text. Two questions come to mind on which perhaps you could help me, for I have not been able to get the answers: 1) Does the Feast of St. Mary which you mentioned in your affidavit come on a certain Sunday of each year, or a certain day? Do you know what day it fell of in 1947? 2) How long did Athanasius Samuel live at St. Mark’s Monastery before he became Metropolitan on Dec. 22, 1946? Was he a priest there for a long time? Do you know how long? Could you find out a little about his early life for me? A brief outline would help me have a more complete picture of the background, in case it becomes necessary for us later. I need it also for a footnote, which I think should be added. I may have a few more questions in a few days, for I want to do another final check on my text before it is too late to make any changes. Thanks for sending the pictures of Guita’s birthday party. It is good to see how your family is progressing. Guita is certainly getting to be a big girl. Please give her our warm regards, and keep a good measure for all the rest of you. May the Advent Season bring you new hope and joy, and may God bless all of you. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

Dear Mrs. Trever,

December 18, 1964

I received your nice letter dated Oct. 31, 1964 some time ago. I realy was very happy that the dress fitted you so nice as you say. What I did realy it does‘nt worth for what you did to toward us. But the main matter of both sides is strange, that the harts of both sides of your family and our family are wording in the same way. (Sorry I could‘nt give you my real feelings, and this comes from my weakness in English language, I hope you will understand me.) I am very glad to hear that your son is going to finish his College after few months, we wish the same to your second son. I hope my daughters too they will have the chance to reach to the same grade of your sons inshallah1. I will be very grad to see you personally, I hope this will not be very long, so we will have some nice time together, try to proove this idea in a short time. We will have Guita and Alaria in Christmas with us for about ten days, so they will have a little change of school work. My last news to you is, in the end of Jan. 1965 I will expect my fourth baby, I wish you all my best regard […] Sincerely Yours, Nijmeh Kiraz

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K-81 Dear Dr. Trever, And ashkurak for your nice letter and […] I am in good health at present. I pray and ask from Lord to protect you and you family from all hard and unlikely things, and my best wishes to you all. Sincerely Yours, Nijmeh Kiraz

Dear Mrs. Trever,

I am very glad to write you few lines and for the first time, this was a great honour to me, I learned from your letter to my wife, that you hope to visit our country and to visit us as well, and you hope the opportunity will come before too many years go by. I will share your idea and add in giving you my opinion to make it sooner and that to ask your good husband to pray special prayer for this purpose to the Lord and ask the Lord to make this visit not like other Americans visit for 4 days only, and I am sure the Lord will accept this prayer, and I also this visit will be not less than one complete month, and you will be with us in our humble(?) home and not in hotel, and I am ready to take you to every part of Jordan. At Christmas eve my first prayer will be for this purpose to the Lord. And I wish you good luck. I wish you a mary Christmas and a happy New Year. Sincerely Yours, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

January 2, 1965

Dear Dr. Trever, Your nice letter of Dec. 13, 1964 and the check inclosed arrived two weeks ago. I delayed the answer for I have a good friend named Murad Saliba who is our neighbour in Bethlehem for the last ten years, of course we have been friends in Jerusalem during the mandate for a very long time and he works in Amman in the Health Dept., and he comes every Thursday to Bethlehem and goes back Saterday morning, and he was an orphan with Samuel in St. Marks Convent when he was young and he is originally from the same town in Turkey and I took these details from him and which he is the person to know about Samuel, and then I checked these details from others too, from old men who were very close to the Metropolitan from the early time, and was the same details as Mr. Murad Saliba’s. 1. The Metropolitan’s father died in Turkey during the first great war, after the great war, and then troubles started between the Christians and the Turks his mother took him to Beirut, Lebanon and put him in the Syrian Orphanage there, in 1923 he was sent with the other orphans to St. Marks convent in Jerusalem, and he became a Deacon, in 1925, 1926 he was sent to Egypt to the Coptic Theology College for one year, then he came back to Jerusalem. Then he went with the Patriarch Elias to Iraq (Mousil) and they continued to India and he was there for two years, and he became in India as a Monk and he came back to Jerusalem. And all the time he was at the St. Mark’s convent in Jerusalem, and as you know on Dec. 22, 1946 he became as a Metropolitan, then you know the rest. 2. The Feast of St. Mary comes at a fixed date on the 28 of August always, but the days changes according to the Calender, on 1947 was on Thursday the 28th. of August. The Schinn’s were in Bethlehem at Christmas night with us with a groupe, and I arranged with difficulties seven tickets to enter to the Midnight service for them, and we received a nice present from Mr. and Mrs. Schinn a set of plates. I will send you the “Charm” with the Schinn’s inshalla and I thank you for you nice gift which helped us in Christmas, specially for the children which I bought for them Christmas presents. It is a good news to hear that you are coming again in 1966 to the Holy Land, but this time not alone, or you will send Mrs. Trever before

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you so that she will be in your reception in Calandia Air Port with a group(e) of people from the Holy Land, and carry you with a very nice car made in England in 1947 according to your questions in your last letter dated Dec. 13, 1964.

I hope this delay for your book will be the last time, because we are very anxious to see it and read it. You may ask any question you want before your book will be printed, because no questions will be any more use after printing. We hope you are all in good health, we wish you our best regards for every member of your nice family. Cordially yours, Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz

February 15, 1965

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz,

It was indeed good news to learn of the birth of a son to bring joy to your lives, and my husband and I join with you in happiness that all has gone well. It was thoughtful of you to inform us so soon thereafter. I also want to tell you how much I appreciated the letter from each of you sent to me December 18th. The lovely dress which was your gift to me was worn at the Christmas reception which the president of our College here holds for the faculty each year, and it brought many compliments. The color was so appropriate to the occasion also. Thank you again for this wonderful expression of your love and thoughtfulness. As for a trip to the Holy Land, we will let you know when we can work out the plans more definitely. I just wanted to let you know that we are thinking in this direction. It is most gracious of you to offer us the hospitality of your home and to want to drive us to parts of the country for sightseeing. When our plans are more definite, then we can explore these possibilities fully. Our College is planning to set up a Department of Middle East Studies, perhaps within the next year or so, and it is possible that my husband may become directly involved in the planning for this because of his experience in that part of the world. We have a number of students on out campus who are from the Middle East. My husband wishes to write something to you also, so I shall not add more news at this time. May God bless you all richly is our prayer for you. Sincerely yours, Mrs. John C. Trever

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for your recent communications, and congratulations on the birth of a boy. What have you named him? I am sorry I failed to acknowledge your letter of Jan. 2, but have been under great pressure to continue my full teaching load and do final editing on my book. This past weekend Mrs. Trever helped me catch up on correspondence by transcribing some 15 letters or so and other things I dictated. Besides I had to finish the index for the book, and that is a meticulous task. It has now gone to the college typist for final copy.

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Thanks for the information about Samuel’s background. It is interesting, and I have incorporated a little bit of it in my revisions, but not very much. […] The date of the Feast of St. Mary’s adds a helpful little note which I hope will strengthen confidence in the material. The publishers have decided again to change the name of the book (this is their privilege!). They are now calling it The Untold Story of Qumran. This is somewhat more dignified to be sure. They are making big plans for it. It will be 7” by 10” (the same height as the Isaiah Scroll!). I have now completed my further editing and feel very confident that the text is in fine shape and clear and readable. A new discovery, recently made at Masada, near the south end of the Dead Sea has just been published, so I could include more details about it. Please thank Gitta warmly for her lovely letter receiver some time ago. We think of her often, despite our failure to communicate. Must stop now and grade Greek papers! With warm regards and sincere best wishes, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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165

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

May 25, 1965

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter of Feb. 15th arrived long ago, and we were very happy to hear that you and Mrs. Trever are coming to Jordan, I hope the children too, and we are ready to make a nice room to all of you. Mr. & Mrs. Shinn are visiting us very often, they are very nice couple we liked them very much, at the 6th of June Mr. Shinn is going to be the Godfather of our George at the Baptism, so with this great honour we will be relatives. The pictures of the Baptism will be taken by Mr. Shinn’s Camera, so you will see the pictures before us. Our baby’s name is George as it is mentioned above, I didn’t mentioned it to you in my last letter, because it was not yet decided, and he was born just before I wrote the letter only 3 hours, and while I sent you my last letter I was in bed for 3 months, a broke happened in my right leg, I didn’t like to mention it in my last letter, because I did‘nt like to give you a good news from one hand another bad news from the other hand, but thanks God I am well now.

Mrs. Kiraz did a dress to Mrs. Trever, we will be sending it with the Shinn’s, and already I have the (Charm) to them. About Mr. Henk Van who asked me about the Dead Sea Scrolls story threw Mr. Shinn, I didn’t tell him anything. Because I liked to take our opinion first, and I asked from Mr. Shinn to write to you and see what you say, so he did this, and I received your answer threw them. I think I must end my letter because my wife wishes to write few lines to Mrs. Trever, so we wish you our best regards to you all, may God bless you all.

Dear Mrs. Trever,

Really I was very happy when Mrs. Shinn informed us of your coming to the Holy Land, it will be so nice to meet each other, we all pray to the Lord to fulfill your desire, I am very anxious to see you, and your husband again. I did a dress to you, I hope you will like it, this time too. It is a black dress from Valvet, I think you need to adjust it on you a little, I will explain to Mrs. Shinn and I will send you the remained pieces in case you need them. The dress I made it two pieces, the skirt alone and the blouse alone, because the top of the blouse is very light it can’t hold

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the skirt, and I did a big colar specially, vecause the blouse from top is strappless may be you don’t like to wear it in some occasions, so the colar will be just a medecine to the strappless, and also you can wear the skirt with any other blouses for a change, the cut of the skirt is circular fashion. We thank you and Dr. Trever for your kindness, and your kind help that you arranged our daughters in Talitha, this was a great help for us, we will never forget it, when they grow up, I am sure they will appreciate your kindness, we always tell them that uncle Trever helped you and he arranged you in the school. I ask from the Lord always to be with you and help you. I remain Yours, Nijmeh Kiraz

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Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever C/o Lincoln College Oxford University Oxford, England

July 13, 1965

Dear Friends, As you will note, we are now on our way to England where my husband will attend a conference at Oxford University for ten days. Then we shall vacation in the Scandinavian countries, especially with my relatives in Sweden, before returning home by ship, arriving in Montreal, Canada, on August 24th. This is my first trip in 14 years. Congratulation on the birth of your son, George. We, too, were pleased that the Shinns acted as godparents at the wedding [sic, read: baptism]. We look forward to seeing the pictures Larry took for you. How sweet of you, Mrs. Kiraz, to make a two-piece velvet dress for me! I shall be anxious to see it after our return, when we hope to see the Shinns. As busy as you must be, I don’t see how you have found time to sew for me, too. Thank you so very much. We shall be looking for the Charm, also, when we see Larry. We were most sorry to learn of the broken leg you had suffered, Mr. Kiraz; but are glad you have now recovered. A fracture is never a pleasant experience. When the plans materialize for the trip to Jordan next year, we sh[a]ll let you know. It is most thoughtful of you to offer to show us around, etc. My husband will add a note. Best wishes to all of you. Sincerely, Elizabeth Trever

Dear Friends, Greetings from somewhere near Ireland on the Atlantic. Sorry, I could not write before we left, but there have been unusually busy days. The galley proofs on the book, called The Untold Story of Qumran had to be carefully checked between June 21 and July 3rd, but they are back at the printers. Some copies of the finishes project are scheduled for early September, but the official publications date is Oct. 18. What a relief to have it finished. Cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

September 1, 1965

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter dated July 13, 1965 arrived long ago. I am sending the answer now to make sure that you are back at home. I hope you met Mr. & Mrs. Shinn by now, we were very sorry when they left Jordan, we liked them very much, specially they became a real relatives to us now. Every time we here your coming to Jordan, we will be happy for just hearing it, so what happens when it comes threw on, I think this is because Mrs. Trever is going to accompany you.

I am waiting unpationtly your untold story book, which took so long time, I am sure you worked on it very hard, and I am sure also, it is going to be very interesting to every reader. […] I end my letter with sending you all our best regards.

Your’s Sincerely Anton Kiraz

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. September 5, 1965

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz, It was good of you to write to me some months ago, and I appreciated the letter very much. After your mention and description of the dress you were making for me, Mrs. Kiraz, I have been looking forward with keen anticipation to receiving it. Just last Saturday we saw the Shinns for the first time since their return home (for they reached America while we were still in England or enroute there, if I recall), and Nancy gave me the lovely dress you had made for me. You have done such a beautiful job of sewing the dress, and it fits me very well indeed. I know it has taken you many hours to make it, for there is much detail work involved in its sewing; and I do appreciate so very much the love that has gone into each stitch and the kindness which prompted you to do such a lovely thing for me. It will be a privilege to wear such an exquisite dress when I play a harp concert in the months to come, and I look forward to such an occasion. I shall find many other uses for it also, you can be sure. Thank you so very, very much. We had a wonderful trip, both in connection with the conference at Oxford which my husband attended, and also in Scandinavia, where we spent the vacation part of our trip. My parents were both born in Sweden, and it was a joy to introduce my husband to the parts of the country in which they had lived and to the relatives, none of whom he had met before. Now we are back once again into he routine of Berea life. Although the college year has not yet begun, there is much to do by way of preparation for the duties ahead. We now look forward to the sabbatical in the Spring of next year. I am anxious to meet both of you personally and to become acquainted with Jordan firsthand. May God bless you both. Sincerely yours, Mrs. John C. Trever

Dear Friends,

What a great surprise we had in our meeting with the Shinns last week and receiving that beautiful dress for my wife! You certainly went all out, Mrs. Kiraz, to make a special one for her to use with her harp. How striking it will be against the gold and light woods of the instrument. We do thank you so much.

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It was good to meet the Shinns, though we had only a short time to visit, before going on to Pittsburgh. They spoke most gratefully about how much you had done for them You did much to make their year in Jordan a most delightful one. Thank you for sending the “charm” back via Larry. I will have some fun with it as “exhibit A” of what problems the scholars face in dealing with Bedouins! I shall use it effectively in connection with an exhibit I am planning for the appearance of my book next month.

The book is coming along according to schedule. Some copies should be ready to ship within a few weeks. I expect to receive the last of the proof materials tomorrow or the next day. I do want to check everything. As it is, I tremble to think what errors might have crept in between the careful checking I did in June and the page-proofs which had to be returned to the printers before I could see them, since we were on the Atlantic at the time. I received proof copies or the color pictures while in Oxford, and they are the best color rep[r]oductions of the scrolls that any printer has yet done. If they can keep this quality when the books are printed, they will be most significant, a real contribution to the book, which is going to be a beautiful volume anyway. The end-paper maps are finished, and they really look grand (unfortunately, I found a little error they failed to correct from my corrections on the masters, but only the most trained expert will notice it, I am sure). The dust jacket is very colorful and has four color shots on the back. The editor told me over the phone the other day that they are most gratified by the large number of orders that is coming in for the book. This is most significant this far ahead of publication date, which is October 18. Just as soon as I get a few copies, I will see that one is dispatched to you with a special autograph. It will take many weeks to arrive, of course, but you should get it before Christmas, at least. Another of my publications on the Dead Sea Scrolls will appear in November as an extensive article in the Revue de Qumran, which is edited by Pre Jean Carmignac in Paris. I met with him while in Oxford this summer, and we went over my manuscript carefully. I will send you an offprint of it when it is available. It will complete the publication of the Cave I materials and supplement chapter XIV of my book. We hope all is going well with you and your family now. How is Gitta doing now in her studies? Please give her my warm regards, best wishes, and encouragement in her work. May God bless you all, Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. September 20, 1965

Dear Anton, Your letter of September 1 arrived a day or two after I sent my last letter, along with Mrs. Trever’s expression of appreciation for your wife’s lovely gift received through the Shinns. I answered most of your letter, however, in that letter. […] I was dreadfully sorry to hear of your accident resulting in a broken leg, and I do hope you are fully recovered by now. […]

Last night a sudden concern struck me that has prompt this letter today. Now that the book, The Untold Story of Qumran is shortly to appear (I saw the first published announcement in a religious journal today, though the promotion was started in May), I feel a concern at one point that should be shared with you. You will recall, when I sent an early draft of my Chapter XII to you, that I exercised great restraint in the way I presented the story of your relation to the Metropolitan Samuel […] When you get your copy of the book, you will be able to locate all this material by referring to the Index under your name. […] It is to be expected that some […] will seek [further information]. If they come to me, I will refuse to divulge any more than I have said in the book and state why. I have placed your affidavit in a bank vault, so there can be no chance for anyone to gain access to it.1 I would like to ask you to follow the same policy […]. The record has been set straight as far as it relates to you and the Dead Sea Scrolls through what I have written, so these other details are irrelevant from now […]. There are bound to be various kinds of reactions to what I have written, but it is my intention and hope that these may be kept within a frame work of the academic matters of importance to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus I hope you will study what I have written carefully and try to follow a similar line of approach in dealing with the matter henceforth. […] The presses started running last Thursday, I was informed, and I expect any day to receive some foundry proofs from the first few pages run, In 2002, John C. Trever returned this copy of the affidavit to George Kiraz upon the request of the latter. 1

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so I can make a final check on all details for accuracy before the books are released on October 18. Sunday, October 17, I shall give a lecture in Pittsburgh, at my brother Winston’s Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church, on the subject “The Genesis of a Book.” There will be an autographing party also to get the release started. I will have a news conference the morning before with the Pittsburgh Press. With cordial best wishes,

Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

October 14, 1965

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your both letters dated Sept. 5 & Sept. 20, 1965 arrived few weeks ago, in one hand I was lazy to answer them soon, and in the other hand I was a little busy, so both gives a good reason for delaying my answer to you both.

[…] I am looking forward to receive your Untold Story book unpationatly, and I started to make big propaganda in Jordan. […] My leg is well now I walk as I use to be, but it took me over four months, thanks God I am very well now.

Coming to your last letter, I read it carefully several times, and I used the dictionary to understand every word is written with their meanings, and I understood the whole story, and your good advises, and I assure you that this is my line of life […] (Kiraz gives Trever assurance that the affidavit will be kept safe and will not be shown to anyone unless it becomes necessary.) The writer who came last Christmas evening with the Shinns, and he knew something about the Dead Sea Scrolls from Mr. Shinn, I am sure not any story, may be only that Antone has relationship with the Scrolls, any how I did not tell him any details or any thing about the story, although there was no time to sit together that night. So I think it is not necessary to get in touch with him, because I am not thinking at all to release him the story, this was my opinion from the beginning, and be sure too. Even of I want to mention anything about the story when is necessary still I will ask your advise. I and Mrs. Kiraz send you our best regards to every member of your family, we still counting the days until next Summer to meet you both and if possible the whole family. Your’s Truly Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

October 25, 1965

Dear Anton, Last Tuesday I sent a copy of The Untold Story of Qumran to you via air mail. I thought I would write to let you know that I had done this, so that you would be on the look for it. Since it is a book, there is the possibility that it may get held up in customs, do I suggest you check at the Bethlehem post office at the time this letter arrives, if you do not already have the book. I am sure you will be delighted with the beautiful piece of work the publisher has done. I regret the little errors which crept into the text the last thing, but I am sure those will not be of much concern to you. I enclosed the various corrections in the package, in case you wish to include them in your copy. The official publication date for my book had to be delayed from October 18 to November 6, because of problems in the bindery. The publishers, however, have provided me with a few copies that were hand bound, and the one I am sending you is from this first group, thus you should have your copy before its official publication date. You will be interested to know that a letter arrived from Paris last week in which I was informed that a French translation of the book in being arranged with a publisher in Paris. This was a surprise development that grew out of a manuscript I sent to Paris for publication in the next issue of Revue de Qumran. […] After dictating this letter, I received your letter, and was pleased to learn that you have recovered from your broken leg. I appreciate your careful appraisal of my earlier letter concerning the policy relating to the background of your experiences with the Metropolitan. […] I shall be sending a gift copy of the book to the Metropolitan in a few weeks. […] I am not sure that I have acknowledged the receipt of the “charm” which you sent through Larry Shinn, but I want you to know that I appreciate having it, and I am preserving it carefully as a curiosity.

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With cordial best wishes to you and your good wife, and blessings on your little son, as well as your three daughters, Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

November 28, 1965

Dear Dr. Trever, I received your Untold Story of Qumran, before the date of your last letter dated Oct. 25. 1965 and I delayed my answer until I read the whole book. I can say it is an excellent book, and I was surprised for the dates and the hours even the minutes, you missed the seconds to put of your meetings with so many persons mentioned in the story. I think the Metropolitan will not be happy concerning my story, […] I think it is nice of you to send him a copy as a gift. I am sure he will read it carefully, and I am sure her will not be happy […] It worth to translate the story into French, it is a great book and historical, you showed in it even the relation of the Scrolls to the Christianity. I wished if I was a writer, I would have translated [it in]to Arabic. […] We have the tradition here when a baby gets his new teeth we make for him (Bourbara) from boiled corn decorated with nuts and sweets and pomegranate, we had a picture for George some weeks ago enclosed you find his picture and also some pictures of Guita’s birthday we had them at her birthday, and I thank you very much for doing you best for the arrangements of my three daughters, we have a little increasement in the cost of living, and in the other hand Talitha Kumi is doing their best to get the best teachers to teach their girls, and of course this will cost them. I end my letter with sending you all our best regards. Your’s Truly Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. January 10, 1966

Dear Anton, Your good letter of November 28 with its enclosed pictures was received long ago, and just after Christmas the lovely card from Guita arrived. We are deeply grateful for all of these. It is good to learn about the Bourbara custom, too. We send our warm greetings to all your family. The pictures are lovely, and we know you were happy to be all together. […]

I am so glad that the copy of the book arrived in Bethlehem without delay. Actually you received it before the official publication day, which was changed to November 6 as a result of the bindery delays. Your copy was one of the few hand-bound ones that were done to meet the dead-line on my address in Pittsburgh, which became a pre-publication party as a result. Almost 100 copies were sold that day. I am glad that you liked the way the book was completed. The publishers did a beautiful job, and it is being praised widely. Just today I received a letter from Samuel to whom I sent a copy of the book on November 8. I have decided to enclose a copy of his letter, for it raises once again the issue which he presented to me in 1949. Apparently this is considered by him as conclusive proof that your story is false. Along with his letter came a photostatic copy of the note which thus completes that bit of evidence. Incidentally, in your letter of June 8, 1949, after acknowledging the “I.O.U.” you say, “and you will receive the money in due time.” What follows, however, hints at the contents of your affidavit. Thus, the letter becomes ambiguous and difficult to understand. In the light of Samuel’s letter and his emphasis upon this one point, I would hope that it might be possible to develop a concrete and documented means of reply. Perhaps an affidavit relating to this specific point needs to be developed for my files in which the accumulated evidence is gathered for posterity. I would appreciate any suggestions about handling this matter which you might send. Perhaps when I am with you this spring we can work out the means of handling it more fully. Obviously it is going to be of prime importance for the future handling of the matter. […]

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Enclosed are two pictures which you may wish for your files. My wife is delighted with the lovely dress which she wore to the President’s Christmas party. It is ideal for her harp, as you can see from the picture. We are now scheduled to leave here on March 24 for Cairo and Luxor. We will arrive in Jerusalem on April 5, according to present plans. We want to arrive in time for Easter. Please give my warm regards to Guita and the rest of your family. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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K-93 [Enclosure to K-91.]

John C. Trever Department of Religion Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio

Archbishop Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel Archdiocese of the Syrian Church of Antioch In the United States and Canada 293 Hamilton Place Hackensack, N.J.

January 5, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, I want to thank you very much for the copy of your book The Untold Story of Qumran. Certainly, it is among the most handsome publications prepared concerning the history of the Scrolls and your research and scholarship is commendable beyond words. That there will be differing opinions on many areas of history, especially as things are recalled after the passage of much time, certainly cannot be disputed but I was somewhat disheartened to not how readily you accepted the claims of Anton Kiraz as to his wild contention that he aided me financially in October of 1947. Since you availed yourself of such documentary evidence in so many other respects, I am sorry you did not approach me in this matter as there could be no clearer repudiation of this false claim than the photostatic copy which I am enclosing herewith. You will note that this is a promissory note dated October 10, 1947, properly signed by Anton Kiraz to me in the amount of 540 Pounds which I had loaned him to overcome his own financial difficulties. It would seem that you might have at least consulted me for my observations (and evidence) before actually turning his dubious statements into seeming fact by your support. Perhaps at some future date, Almighty God will grant you the opportunity to publicly discount this section and you will then have this photostat as primie Facti evidence to support your statement. In the meantime, I can only say that I am truly and sorrowfully disappointed that you did not write me first regarding this twisted and malicious fabrication. Very truly yours

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

January 20, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, Your very interesting letter of Jan. 10 with its enclosed two nice pictures and Samuel’s letter to you arrived few days ago. Regarding to Samuel’s letter and the I.O.U. note, we will talk about them together, so far your coming is near, when you come mention to me two words (Greek Convent or Greek Priests) then I’ll tell you all about the I.O.U. note. We were so happy when we read the last 3 lines of your letter, which you say you will be here on April 5, why not on April 2, because on April 3, is the Palm Sunday, which will be very nice in Jerusalem. Now read and understand me, please let me know when you be sure exactly the date and the time you will be in Jerusalem Air Port, we will come and get you. Then both of you are going to be gladly with us in Bethlehem for the whole period you stay in Jordan, with complete freedom, you know the room you slept before, this room will be completely Yours with all necessary things for you, because we want to see the Trever’s daily although for one minute, and don’t think you want to give us any trouble, and please if you have any plan let me know if you don’t mind, so that I can arrange my plan, anyhow I will get a copy of the Official seromony’s for all religions, and this year is leap-year, I mean all religious Easter. Our desire we again welcome you to the Holy Land, and we ask Lord to fullfil our desire, I am sure the Lord will tell you to accept our humble home for your visit in the Holy Land, and with this we will be very happy, and my old aged car is ready to take you every place in Jordan, because he knows that the Trever’s family have a share in him. Our warm regards to you all and the Lord be with you always. Sincerely Yours, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

February 5, 1966

Dear Anton, Your letter of January 20th, in which you comment on my letter of January 10th, was much appreciated. It will be important that we discuss at length the matter raised in that letter when we are together in the Spring. We had seriously considered trying to arrive in Jerusalem by April 2nd, but the schedule which we are able to set up will not permit that early an arrival. Thus the 5th proved to be the earliest possible date we could make the arrangement and accomplish the things which need to be done in countries prior to our arrival in Jordan. The problem centers around the fact that it is not possible for us to leave here until March 24th, in view of the heavy involvements of my word at the College. Mrs. Trever and I are indeed most grateful to you for your very kind offer of hospitality to us while we are in Jordan, and we are overwhelmed by the statements which you make. Perhaps I need to explain that the purpose of a sabbatical leave from a college in this country is to provide the professor an opportunity for academic growth in his field. Sabbaticals are not very frequently granted, and when they are one has to make his plans according to a rigid discipline of the academic institution to which he belongs. In order to have the sabbatical leave, therefore, it is necessary for me to abide by the rules set down by the institution. My stay in Jordan, therefore, is predicated upon my pursuing certain academic projects which I have outlined to the administration of the College. In order to carry these out, it is going to be necessary for us to stay at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem, where the academic facilities will be immediately available. All arrangements for our stay at the A.S.O.R., therefore, have been completed, and they are anticipating our arrival on April 5. I find no difficulty in equating your hospitality offer with other aspects of my academic projects, however; and we shall be looking forward to repeated and frequent contacts with you in connection with these plans. I shall shortly be sending you an outline of some of the plans which I would

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like to work out with you in connection with our stay in Jordan, but I do not have them shaped up yet to send. Be assured that we are most grateful to you for your offer of hospitality, and we will be looking forward to availing ourselves of much of it. We certainly, however, do not wish to be a burden to you in any way. We are tentatively making arrangements for a trip to Baghdad (by air) during the period from May 1-13, but the rest of the time between April 5 and June 1 we will be in Jordan. It would be most kind of you to get information about religious ceremonies planned for the Easter season, and we shall look forward to attending as many as possible during the time that we are there. We are most grateful for your wonderful friendship, and we look forward to the fellowship we will have with you and your good family. May God bless you and guide you each day. We shall be arriving in Jerusalem via the Royal Jordanian Airlines flight #501 at 4:00 P.M. from Cairo on April 5. (This plane leaves Cairo at 2:15 P.M.) Cordially yours, John C. Trever

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K-96 [Enclosure.]

Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel, Archbishop Archdiocese of the Syrian Church of Antioch In the United States and Canada 293 Hamilton Place Hackensack, New Jersey

John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017

February 5, 1966

Your Grace, Thank you for your letter of January 5th and its enclosure, and I have carefully noted your comments on my recently published book, The Untold Story of Qumran. The evidence which you now send in photostatic form was presented to me by yourself in other forms as early as 1949, and I assure you it was duly considered and weighed in connection with the evaluation of all other materials prior to the writing of this book. Perhaps you have forgotten that we discussed this entire matter in 1949, and I have considerable information about it in my files. It has continued to be my hope through the years that the solution to the problem which you raised might be resolved through a face-to-face discussion between you and Mr. Anton Kiraz. It is still my hope that perhaps such a discussion can take place. It is certainly needed. With kind regards,

Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio, 44017 U.S.A.

March 22, 1966

Dear Anton, I had hoped to write to you some weeks ago, but the pressure of this quarter (with 90 students to care for in four different courses) has kept me so close to the daily tasks that little time was available for planning. My wife has had to do almost all the arranging of the trip, as a result. At last, yesterday afternoon I turned in all my grades and thus finished the student work. Thus we are pressing hard now to get ready for our departure Thursday afternoon. We will have time to lay out our plans for the kinds of things that I will be doing and need to do after we arrive, but I might give you an outline of the main items which I will want to consider. Then you can do some planning from your end with regard to how much you feel you would be able to help me accomplish. These are the main items which I will want to do: 1. Khirbet Qumran and ‘Ain Feshkha—at least one full day. 2. Petra and Akaba—at least three full days. 3. Tell es-Sa’idiyeh and Pella (east Jordan Valley midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea)—a full days trip. 4. Hebron—to study the excavations where some of our students will be working this summer—one day, including some time in Bethlehem. 5. Dothan and Shecken (also Jacob’s well and perhaps Seilun, just north of Turmus Aiya)—one day. 6. Michmash and Geba—part of a day. (Also Gibeon) 7. Perhaps we can locate where Muhammad adh-Dhib’s camp is stationed and spend some time there. Could we arrange to get some pictures of Bedouin life this way? Perhaps Khalil Musa will be near adhDhib and we could include him. (My pictures of Khalil Musa were spoiled by an unfortunate error.) 8. I am going to be making a study of the excavations recently conducted abound the walls of Jerusalem, and that I will do through the British School of archaeology.

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9. I want to spend a day or two at the Amman Museum. 10. This time I shall definitely plan to visit Herodium and Tekoa. 11. I will need a couple of days at the Museum in Jerusalem. 12. Holy Week, of course, we will stay pretty close to Jerusalem for the religious occasions there. 13. I plan to spend about three days working on our Jordan Mission Project to explore various types of projects which our students could do. 14. We have scheduled a trip to Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut from May 1 to 12. All reservations for this trip have been completed. We will have to leave Jordan on June 1 to complete the rest of our itinerary. Thus you can see we have planned a pretty busy schedule, for I shall be trying to assemble information and photographs for lectures on recent archaeological studies. Thus the time will slip away too quickly, I am sure. […] You will be interested to know that the publishers of The Untold Story… have just written that a second printing has been done, since the book has been adopted by the Book Club Guild of New York, which is a central agency for all the Book Clubs. This will assure the book of a wide distribution at least in this country. I understand that all the corrections have been made for the new printing which is good news to me. I have not seen a copy of the new printing yet, however. I must stop and continue the packing and other duties preparatory to our departure. Will be seeing you soon. Greetings and best wishes to all of you.

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K-98 DOCUMENT REGARDING AN ALLEGED PROMISSORY NOTE BETWEEN ANTON D. KIRAZ AND METROPOLITAN ATHANASIUS SAMUEL? DATED OCTOBER 10, 1947 I, Anton David Kiraz of Ras Ftais Street, Bethlehem, hereby declare and state as absolute truth, the following facts relating to and the source of a certain promissory note for the sum of 540 Palestinian pounds, which I gave to Mar Athanasius Samuel on the date of October 10, 1947, and willingly signed by my own hand: First, be it known that the purpose of said note was to assist Metropolitan Samuel with his personal financial problems; and second, that I did not receive personally at any time any of the 540 Palestinain pounds covered by the note. The circumstances surrounding the note were as follows: 1. St. Mark’s Monastery, from as long as I can remember, was in debt to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate for about 20,0001 Palestinian pounds at an interest rate of 3-4%. The amount varied from time to time as payments were made and further loans were received. The full amount of the loan was finally paid off in February of 1966. 2. When I borrowed money from the bank, I had to pay 7% or more interest. From 1944 I had a standing loan with the Arab Bank of Jerusalem fro 1,000 pounds, available as needed, with 1% interest, but 7% when drawn aupon. 3. When, about October 1-3, 1947, Mar Athanasius Samuel revealed to me his personal [financial] difficulties [Samuel had been swidnelled] I gave Samuel first 252 pounds and the next day 50 additional pounds, as a temporary measure of help. I promised to get more for him, even though I did not have it in cash at the moment. 4. A few days later Samuel indicated the need for more money, and I suggested that I borrow the sum of 5003 pounds from the bank on his behalf at 7% interest. Samuel, however, suggested that it would be better to borrow the money from the Greeks, since interest rate was so much lower. 5. In order to get the money for himself, and yet not reveal to the Greeks his own personal involvements, Samuel asked me if I would give him a promisory note for the amount needed (500 Palestinian pounds plus 40 pounds interest for two years), so that Samuel could pretend to be getting the money for me (Kiraz) rather than for himself. Since we were = $651,000 in 2002. = $200 in 2002. 3 = $4,030 in 2002. 1 2

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such close friends, and I was eager to help him in every way possible, I agreed to his plan and gave him the signed note, so he could get the money at the lower interest rate. 6. I have never known whether he actually used the note to get the money for himself. I did not feel it would be polite to inquire about it afterwards, for we were close friends. All I know is that I did not receive any money from Samuel in return for the note. 7. All the negotiations in relations to the recovery of [Samuel’s Swindled money] were carried out in my name to protect Metropolitan Samuel. 8. In October 1947 I was paying into my bank account, not drawing from it, as a result of my business. On October 8, 1947, I made deposits of 50 pounds and 100 pounds, leaving a balance of 830.984 available. 9. In 1950 or 1951 Samuel sent from the United States the said promissory note (in copy) to Father Bulos of St. Mark’s monastery in Jerusalem. Father Bulos pressed me for payment. When I explained to him the circumstances of the origin of the note and suggested that he take it to court if he wished, he did not press the matter further. In the meantime the five year statute of limitations of such note has invalidated said note; for it had not been renewed. 10. Therefore, be it known, that the note used by Samuel to deny my claim to partnership with him in the matter of the four Dead Sea Scrolls which he had secured in July of 1947, was a false instrument drawn up to assist Samuel with his personal financial troubles and does not at all represent money which he lent to me. I have personally examined the above statement prepared for me by Dr. John C. Trever, and declare it to represent the whole truth and nothing by the truth. Signed Kiraz’ Signature this 20th day of May, 1966. Witnesses: Thomas David’s Signature Thomas David1, P.O.Box 1665, Amman, Jordan

1

A first cousin of Kiraz.

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K-99 FURTHER STATEMENT REGARDING THE ATTACHED AFFIDAVIT OF ANTON D. KIRAZ In support of the above statement by Anton D. Kiraz, I, John C. Trever, have personally examined the bank statements of Anton D. Kiraz and found that on September 30, 1947, his [loan] balance was 980.984 Palestinian pounds.1 On October 8, 1947 he made two deposits, one of 50 pounds and another for 100 pounds, leaving then a balance of 830.984 pounds. By November 30, 1947, the balance had dropped to 6742 pounds, showing that the account was active during the period of Samuel’s difficulties and that there is no indication of Mr. Kiraz having borrowed money from any other source than his own bank account. Signed Trever’s Signature this 19th day of May, 1966. Witnesses: Thomas David’s Signature P.O.Box 1665, Amman, Jordan (Thomas David)

1 2

= $31,900 in 2002. = $21,935 in 2002.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

August 5, 1966

Dear Anton, It was good to get your letter of July 121 a few days after we returned from our long safari into the Near EaSt. What a wonderful lot of memories we have from those days. As I am working on my pictures to get them organized for lectures, I am reliving many of the exciting days we had together. Yes, we are truly grateful to you and your good wife for the many wonderful things you did to make our trip such a valuable experience. As Elizabeth has been trying on her new wardrobe, I am reminded of how blessed she is to have such a talented friend in your wife. Her skills are very evident in these lovely dresses. As Elizabeth wears them this fall, we will be continually reminded of your kindnesses to us.

[…] Just before leaving Jerusalem, I had an interview with a man related to the early history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and I have thought much about the matters he raised. It has just occurred to me to send you another question a means of checking into the matter. I wish I could have pursued it while there, since I was deeply disturbed by what I heard. Could you contact Mrs. Roginah Marzurqa and inquire of her if she remembers clearly the event of November 29, 1947, when Faidi Salahi dealt with the Dead Sea Scroll fragments. Does she recall that the Armenian antiquities dealer of Jerusalem, Mr. Ohan, come to negotiate the scrolls alone, or was Dr. E.L. Sukenik of the Hebrew University with him at the time. In other words, did Faidi Salahi deal with one person or two from Jerusalem? Does she remember who Dr. Sukenik was, and of so does she remember seeing him in Faidi Salahi’s home any time around November 29, 1947, or afterwards? I shall have other questions, as I begin to write up the account about Mohammed edh-Dhib which I plan to write. I hope I will not be a burden to you in the process. It is helpful to be able to get my facts checked by someone on the site. Yesterday I sent off my first article on a bit of research 1

There is no record of this letter.

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in the Palestine Archaeological Museum, so I want now to start on an article on the Ta’amirehs. You will be interested to know that a report from the publishers of The Untold Story shows that as of April 30, 1966, 3587 copies had been sold, but since then 4,000 copies have been distributed through the Religious Book Club as a bonus book. A German translation is now under contract, and a British firm has bought sheets for binding in England and sale through their channels. They will probably supply Jordan in the future. A French translation is still being negotiated. The news about Bulos is alarming,1 and I am dreadfully sorry. Do you want me to try some direct negotiations? […] I just realized that I have some color prints of you and George which I intended to send to you, but I will have to send them on a little later in another letter. The Kodacolor pictures of George and you on the roof of you[r] home came out beautifully. I have a good one of Gitta in the garden at the ASOR, too. It is difficult to get prints made from my transparencies, however, so I will have to wait on the ones of your wife in the garden, and all of us. Elizabeth joins me in sending our warm regards and sincere best wishes and salaams. Remember us especially to Gitta. We hope she is very helpful to you this summer. Cordially yours, John C. Trever

P.S. I know Manooq well. He is a business man in Worcester, Mass.

Bulos had a falling-out with his Patriarch, Ignatius Jacob III. As a result, Bulos left the Syriac Orthodox Church and joined the Syriac Catholic Church. 1

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Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel, Archbishop Archdiocese of the Syrian Church of Antioch In the United States and Canada 293 Hamilton Place Hackensack, New Jersey

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017

August 5, 1966

Your Grace, Pursuant to your letter of January 5 to which I made brief reply on February 5, I have just returned from two months in Jordan where I made a careful examination of all the evidence relating to the matter at hand. There is in my possession now additional evidence which makes what you call “primie facti” evidence highly suspect and unsupported evidence. I am thus more convinced than ever before that what I have stated in my book is true and by no means what you call “malicious fabrication.” If you can supply me with other evidence that can substantiate your claim to “fabrication” I will, of course, be most pleased to receive it. As of now, however, I stand clearly convinced that what I have written will stand the test of careful scrutiny by apt scholarship. Until I receive such overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I feel no need to change in any way what has been written. Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN August 16, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter dated Aug. 5, 66 arrived few days ago, […] Your hard work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, did not go like that this hard work was very successful you can see from the 4000 copies as bonus, which is more than what was sold. It seems The Untold Story is going to tell the whole world in different languages the true story. I am very glad to hear this, I hope you will be helped from this valuable book, so that you will be able to continue your valuable helps to needy people everywhere, and we ask the Lord your two sons will follow the same way like their father. I am ready to do my best to any questions you ask from me and there is no any burden to me, in the contrary I will have the pleasure to do anything you need. I met Mrs. Rogina Marzouka and asked her about your questions. As you know here the woman doesn’t interfere while men discuss in any kind of matters she told me about the things she knows. She told me that she knows Mr. Ohan very well, and she said that Faidi Salahi knew Dr. Sukenik threw Mr. Ohan, and Mr. Ohan, use to come to Faidi very often. Dr. Sukenik also use to come, but she doesn’t remember if they came together at the date you mentioned, even she doesn’t remember the nearest date to Nov. 29, 1947 if it was before or after, but she makes sure that Mr. Ohan use to come very often. If you want to ask in future if she knows anything about their discuss, she doesn’t know anything, because she never sat with them and heard anything, just she use to see that Mr. Ohan is with Faidi or Dr. Sukenik. If you can try to make some direct negotiations,1 […] I end my letter asking the Lord to bless all of you, and our best wishes to you and Mrs. Trever and to you good boys. Yours Sincerely, Anton Kiraz

1 There seems to be a misunderstanding on Kiraz’s part. Trever offered to negotiate between Bishop Boulos and Patriarch Jacob III. Kiraz was under the impression that Trever offered to negotiate on another unrelated private matter.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

October 1, 1966

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letter of August 16 […]

I am sorry that I forgot in my last letter to send you the color prints of members of your family which I had on hand at the time; but since we had used an air letter, we could not enclose them. We are enclosing 2 of them, however, in this letter, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did in taking them. I’ll admit I was a bit frustrated about taking pictures of your family, for I seemed to fail so many times. The Kodacolor pictures which I took, however, were perfect, as the prints will indicate. The transparencies will need some further work, but I have been experimenting with making color negatives off of the transparencies and having prints made from those. I think I now have this method under control, and thus it will probably be possible in the future to send you some prints of other pictures which were made on the transparency film. You will have to be patient for those pictures, however.

Thank you for the answers to the questions I posed in my last letter. You were very helpful, even though I had hoped to have a bit more specific information from Mrs. Marzouka. I understand more clearly, however, why she could not supply the more specific information. With regards to the Bedouins, I would appreciate your exploring the following matter when you next come in contact with Muhammed edhDhib, Jum’a, or Khalil Musa. When I was interviewing them in 1962, I recall that they made some remarks about the method of taxation of their animals by the Jordan Government, and I am wondering if that is still the same or has changed. I other words, I would appreciate getting information about the size of Muhammed edh-Dhib’s flocks as well as those of Khalil Musa, and the way they are taxed by the government. As I am developing my ideas about the article, I think this kind of information would be helpful in making the article more interesting. Furthermore, I would appreciate knowing how Muhammed edh-Dhib has worked out his arrangements with the owners of the land where he was reaping wheat when we met him. I

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find the information which we received at the time a little bit vague, and I am wondering if we could get more specifically clear just how this works out. Does he rent the land, or does he merely till the soil, plant the crop and harvest it in return for a share of the crop? Also, is Khalil Musa engaged in this same kind of “share-cropping”? I should have probed this kind of information further when I was there last May, but it did not occur to me at the time that I would be trying to write up this kind of material. Now, however, it seems more valuable, as so often the case in this kind of thing. In the light of your note delivered by Mrs. Buckey, I think I will dispatch an exploratory letter in the near future to see if I can get an answer on the matter at hand. I recall that my former letter did not get a response, but perhaps I can do better this time. Now I wish I could have known this situation when I left Jordan, for I spent a half-hour with the individual concerned from whom I might have gotten the information better face-toface than by correspondence. Anyway, that is the way things go; so I will try to make a stab at it.

These are getting to be busy days for me now, since I have the largest number of students to teach this quarter that I have had since coming to Baldwin-Wallace College. Also, I am teaching a class of eleven students the Greek language, and this alone is a difficult task. I am sure, therefore, that I will keep out of mischief at least the first quarter. With warm greetings to you and all your family, and especially to “King George”. Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

Dear Nijmeh,

I am adding this note to my husband’s letter above and send you greetings from Berea. I hope this finds you in good health and fully recovered from all the escapades we took you on in Jordan (such as Petra, remember?). […] Elizabeth

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K-104

Mr. Anton Kiraz

K-104

John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A. October 7, 1966

Dear Anton, Today I received in the mail two letters which require immediate action, so I have dropped all other projects to take care of both of them. One is your letter of October 31 and the other is from Athansius Samuel’s attorney (I know him well from many previous contacts). I enclose a copy of the letter from Samuel’s attorney for you to study. You will doubtless note in the second paragraph the stand which he is taking regarding the note which he has from you. Apparently he is assembling evidence to refute your statement of your position. Thus I am placed in a difficult position. Perhaps you will also note the confusion in the last paragraph in which a legal threat is given. This, of course, poses a serious problem for me. I am seeking legal advice myself from the research attorney here who helped me a great deal in connection with my original manuscript of the book. Thus I am sending to him a copy of the letter also. […] we may need to seek [advice from the Syrian Orthodox Church] from your side. Have you established friendships with them that are close enough to get proper counsel on this matter? What about the director of the Ophthalmic Hospital to whom you introduced me? Would he be sensitive to the implications of this problem, do you think? What about the Patriarch? Does he know you and anything about the history of this situation? Do you suppose either of these men have read my book? If not, they certainly should. […] Greetings to all. […] Cordially, John C. Trever

1

This letter is not in the archive.

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K-105 [Enclosure to K-103.]

John C. Trever Department of Religion Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio

George B. Kedersha 4808 Bergenline Avenue Union City, N.J. 07087

October 4, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, Please be advised that His Grace Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel, Archbishop of the Syrian Church of Antioch, was in to see me today concerning certain defamatory statements in your book “The Untold Story of Qumran”. In your book, you make mention of false claims of Anton Kiraz. It is surprising that you are relying on the statements made by the said Kiraz and place no faith or confidence in Archbishop Samuel’s statements. In addition to what documentary evidence he has already presented to you, he can furnish you with bank statements and sworn affidavit verifying and indicating that he made a withdrawal from his own personal savings account in Jerusalem and, in addition to the five hundred (500) pounds, he made up the difference from cash he had in his possession and, simultaneously, obtained from Mr. Anton Kiraz a promissory note dated October 10, 1947 acknowledging receipt of the sum of five hundred forty (540) pounds. The promissory note is an authentic document and is not false under any circumstances. His Grace acted in good faith in making the loan, thinking that this would help Kiraz in his financial difficulties. I would think that before you would make any statements in your book, you would endeavour to investigate this matter further to satisfy yourself that the statements contained were true. At the proper time, further proof will be supplied to uphold the contention of Archbishop Samuel. In his behalf and at his request I ask that you retract any and all defamatory statements contained in your book relating to any alleged loans as reported by you to Anton Kiraz are definitely false and unfounded. Upon your failure to retract these statements immediately, he has informed me that he is contemplating taking legal action against you. Very truly yours, George. B. Kedersha

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K-106 John C. Trever

K-106

Mr. Anton Kiraz October 14, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, I wish to acknowledge with thanks your letter dated Oct. 7 which arrived yesterday together with the copy of the warning of Samuel’s advocate. I am sending you this letter to inform you that I am taking serious steps in this business and I shall not fail to write you again very shortly the result of my activities round here. I feel and believe that the warning of the Bishop’s lawyer was just a matter of mere pretended threatening with no real basis at the bot[t]om. However we must be cautious for any eventual mishaps, and therefor we must consider it seriously and arrange everything beforehand so that we may be always on the safe side. I seize this opportunity to tell you that I shall be visiting shortly his Beatitude our [P]atriach [Jacob III] in Damascus and I shall open this matter to him and explain in detail the full story of the Dead Sea Scrolls. For this reason I will appreciate if you kindly send him a copy of your book in order he may have a clearer idea of the story. At any rate please be courageous like a lion and do not worry about this case, as you will see that in a short time when you will be receiving the result of my present activities you’ll have a more complete documentation in support of this case into our favour. Be sure that this is just the right opportunity for me to bring out dead matters into life again […] and put up again everything in this right place with the will of God. Regarding our departure I shall write you again as soon as I am over with the case of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I wish to convey you my very sincere thanks for all what you have done and are doing about my children. I pray God to keep you always in good health and full of His blessings for a continuous happiness and prosperous life, you your family and your children. Mrs. Kiraz sends you all her best regards. God be with you all. Yours sincerely, Anton Kiraz

P.S. About the zipper of Mrs. Trever we don’t know the name of the factory, when ever happens this with us, we will change the zipper completely.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

October 20, 1966

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letter of October 14, and I am glad to know that you received my letter of the 7th and its enclosure. I appreciate your concern over the matter which I raised with regard to The Untold Story of Qumran. Since you did not send the name or the address of you Patriarch [Jacob III], I am unable to send a copy of the book to him directly. Thus I am sending one, specially autographed for him, to you via air mail with the hopes that you can see that he gets it. I am sorry to bother you with it, but I know of no other way to be sure of its arrival. Even though it is quite costly so send it via surface mail that takes almost two months to arrive. I am sure you would need it before then. I am pleased to note that you will be meeting with the Patriarch soon, and I do hope that the results will be positive. I am sure you have in mind, however, the fact that the present Patriarch is an old friend of A.Y. Samuel, and thus your approach calls for caution and careful documentation of the evidence. Also you will probably have in mind the fact that there were great disturbances in this country within the Assyrian Orthodox Communities (as they have been called here) over Samuel and that it was the present Patriarch who finally ironed out the problems and brought about a compromise within the churches and between them and Samuel. If you need some counsel about such matters from a reliable person in this country, I believe that my best friend in the churches is Mr. Aziz Souma 26 Loudoun St. Yonkers, New York 10705. He is the head tailor for the Fifth Avenue Bonds (Men’s) Store in New York and a prominent layman in the West New York Syrian Orthodox Church. He is Ibrahim Sowmy’s cousin. He has always been most cordial to me […] To keep you informed of what is going on at this end, let me say that I turned a copy of Kedersha’s letter over to my attorney who studied the manuscript of the book before it was published. My attorney has written to Kedersha asking for specific passages in the book to which Samuel objects.

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This will probably take some time and may even stop Samuel entirely, but we can only hope so. Incidentally, the publishers had their attorney go over the manuscript very carefully, and many small changes were made to avert any possibility of a successful libel suit. Thus great precautions have been taken. I have not informed the publishers of Samuel’s actions, for I do not want to alarm them. […] Under separate cover and by surface mail we are sending to Gitta a lovely new Bible which should be a useful tool for learning English as well as the values of life. Mrs. Trever and I wanted to do something for her birthday and Christmas but know how difficult it is to send gifts in view of the high duties. Greetings to all of you from both of us. Cordially, John C. Trever

Dear Nijmeh,

Greetings! We think of you often and hope all is going well with you. I am enjoying wearing the dresses you made for me. Thank you so much. Fondly, Elizabeth

K-108 K-108

John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN October 31, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letters dated 1st., 7th and 20th of October 1966 are all arrived with a copy of your book (The Untold Story of Qumran) addressed to our Patriarch threw me, and your book arrived at the same day of arrival of your letter of October the 20th. Regarding to your letter October 1st. we both I and Nijmeh thank you very much for the 2 nice pictures you sent enclose, Mrs. Kiraz asks you, if it will not be trouble to you to send a copy of the picture of George alone to the Shinn’s, because it is very beautiful she says, and they will like it.

Regarding to the Bedouins. By chance I met Khalil Musa in the Bethlehem Bus on our way to Jerusalem on October 19th, and I had very good chance to sit beside him and open the subject with him as an ordinary talking and I got from him all what you asked, without he understands and you will find enclose on a separate paper what he said. But I did not see Jum’a and El Dieb yet. When I see them I’ll get you their statement. And we thank you also for the slip enclose which shows the address of (Anouska Couture). Regarding your letter dated October 7th; and the copy of Samuel’s attorney. Anyhow you know about the promissory note. If this note was a real note, I mean if he gave me the amount of this note, and specially the misunderstanding between me and him since late 1948 or early 1949, he would have done a court case against me threw Boulos or anyone in Jordan by making someone to represent him, and the note was not expired yet at that time. But because there was no reality for that note, so he couldn’t do anything, even he did not ask for renewing it. He is just using this note as defense arm for himself, but still he can’t use it even for this purpose when the things rise officially. This kind of things always could be done anywhere, always good friends help each other in this way when one will be in need, specially business people, they do such promissory note anytime the need the money in urgent case, just to discount it from the Bank. Secondly, in the third paragraph he says that he made a withdrawal of (500) and the difference he had it in his position. Why he did not made the

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check of the (500) in my name? this was more stronger for him, or why he did not made a check for (540) against the promissory note and kept the difference he had it in his position for other purposes? Even he withdrew (500) this doesn’t prove that he have them to me, if he is true any how? Now my dear I am trying my best to do something impossible, to possible, for this purpose already I been in Qumran 3 times since I received your letter of Oct. 7, the thing which I am trying to do is, to get the Bank account of Samuel’s during 1947, and all the books and files of the mandate are in underground stores under two keys, one key with the Bank director, and the second key is with general director, one of these directors alone can not open the room, they should be together, and of course, no body can get such information except the owner of the account, or against official court case. I am trying this with great personalities to arrange me this matter, I hope that I will succeed, I am going to be after this until I’ll succeed. and please keep this secret. On the 7th of Nov. I am going to Damascus to see the Patriarch [Jacob III], and discuss the matter with him, I know the Patriarch very well, but I never told him about this story, now I am going to tell him the story in details, and see his idea about it, I learned that he is not in good term with Samuel now, but in any case they are religious persons. The reason of my going on the 7th of Nov., because our daughters are coming home on the 6th of Nov., and because we want to do for Guita her birthday, so Mrs. Kiraz wants me to be at home. In this trip may be my cousin [Thomas] will accompany me, because he is very good friend with the Patriarch. 1 […] Thank you for the clippings of the papers enclose, I will let you know later the kind of work I like, after studying them well, because Samuel’s matter made me busy. And thank you for the picture enclose of the 3 girls. Regarding your letter Oct. 20th., in near future I’ll be writing to Mr. Aziz Souma, after my return from Syria. I am sure Guita is going to be very happy for the Bible you sent for her, because she likes to read the Bible always, thank you very much you have troubled yourself, over your troubles.

1 Thomas lived formerly in Beirut, of which the patriarch was metropolitan before his enthronement to the Holy See of Antioch. Both men shared a passion for Syriac literature and Syriac books.

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Mr. George Marogui which we went together at night to their house, and we spoke about [the swindler] and Samuel, he is now in America (Indianapolis). Our best wishes to you all. Anton Kiraz

204

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K-109

K-109 [Enclosure to K-108.] Khalil Musa’s statement1 1) He use to have around 60 flocks during the mandate, Jum’a had nearly the same quantity, but Mohd. El Deeb was an orphan and poor and he was very young too. He was goatherd, he didn’t have for himself any flock. 2) They use to pay tax for each goat 250 mils during the mandate and 125 mils for each ...ewe, because the goat gives milk for about 6 or 7 months and the ewe gives milk for 3 months, and the same tax they use to pay for the Jordan Gover[n]ment, but before around 7 years there was no rain (sterility, barrinness, aridity) and the King forgave them from the tax and now around this period which is 6 years they don’t pay any tax, and they don’t know up till when this continu[e]s. 3) He has his own land at the Taamireh about 100 danums, if the season will be good he makes about 60 sacs of Barley and 20 sacs of wheat and Cantar of Lentils (hundredweight cwt and if happens sterility, bad season, so he will loose what he put in the Earth. 4) Before a month he bought a piece of land from Bethlehem for 300 J.D. and he paid cash, for this season he sold 47 small sheep for 160 J.D. and had a little money with him, and he borrowed 80 J.D. form his relatives, and he wants to repay the 80 J.D. next season. 5) He has four boys and two girls all are married. 6) He has a t present 120 flock except the 47 which he sold, he is thinking to sell all and to build a house in Bethlehem on the land which he bought and have rest for the rest of his life, because no more benefit from the goats and others, because the feeding in costing much. The ton of the Barley 36 J.D., the ton of Bran is 24 J.D. 7) He said the land which Mohd. El Deeb was having which we saw belongs to the Gover[n]ment, he had rent it from the Gover[n]ment, but he doesn’t know how much he paid.

1

This is not a sworn statement. See the previous letter.

K-110

Samuel’s Reaction to The Untold Story (1966)

K-110

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio U.S.A.

November 17, 1966

Dear Anton, This note must be written in haste, for I have an appointment in a few minutes. I do want to get this off to you tonight, however. Thanks so much for your letter of October 31 with all it information. I am sorry to put you to so much trouble about the note business, but I do hope you have met with success in your endeavours. My attorney has not yet received a reply to his request for further information, so for the time being all seems well. Perhaps my prediction that a letter from my attorney would solve the problem is working out. Let’s hope so. […] Enclosed are some more pictures. Greetings to all from us both. Cordially, John C. Trever

206 K-111

John C. Trever

Samuel’s Reaction to The Untold Story (1966)

K-111

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN November 23, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, I have visited his Beatitude the Patriarch [Jacob III] twice this month, the first visit was on the 9th of Nov., in which I have him your book personally and I asked him to read it, and I told him I will visit you again to discuss the problem between me and Samuel. Because there was an important case I discussed it with him in this visit, I asked his Beatitude to go to Beirut to meet the president of Lebanon personally for that case, and our discussion on this case took long time, in which I thought to discuss Samuel’s case also will be too much. Because his Beatitude gladly agreed for my demands and he is going to be in Beirut this week may be on the 24th or 25th to meet the president (Sharl Hilou) for the said case. I went to Damascus on the 20th. just before 3 days to discuss the matter of Samuel, and I took my wife and George and my Cousin [Thomas] in this trip with me, at 9:00 A.M. we have been at the Patriarcate, and of course it was Sunday and we attended the service in the church, and this took until 10:30A.M. then we went up to the sitting room (Saloon) which there was a big crowed of our community, as soon his Beatitude saw me, he said “Ahlan wa Sahlan, Anton, I read the book”. After we had our places just beside him, he said “there is a big confusion, between this book and the other books I read before, and you are the major person in the matter in this book”. We stayed until everyone left. Then his Beatitude said “yes Anton let us start and see what is your case.” I told him “now [it] is around 12 and you have to take your lunch and sleep, so give me an appointment for this afternoon.” He said “you will stay and have the lunch with me together all of you.” Of course we did not agree, and I said “just give us the appointment I will come with my cousin”. So he said “3:30P.M. is good, because I have a visit at 4:30.” I told him “I need more time, because I want to tell you the whole story, and only 10% of the story, because the full story takes a complete day, because this took me over 8 months”. So he said “any time you want.” I told him “2:30”. He said “Ahlan wa Sahlan you are welcome”.1 In the original, the conversation is expressed in one long sentence without quotation marks or breaks. 1

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At 2:30 I and my cousin met him in his big (Saloon) immediately I started the story from the beginning until the end, and this took me till 4 o’clock, of course the story as the affidavit you have, I might add some more things, and I told him about the bill of 540, and I told him about the warning of Samuel to you threw George B. Kedersha and the results if we start court cases, […] and I spoke of course more than what I am writing to you in this letter. His Beatitude was listening very carefully during the 1 hour and 30 minutes, he did not open his mouth, just listening carefully, when I finished I said to him, now I want your opinion, your Holiness. (Kiraz reports that the Patriarch was sympathetic, and promised that he will write to Samuel.) His Beatitude told me also, that Mr. Aziz Souma sent him 10.0001 dollars few days ago as a help for the project in Beirut, to build up religious school and a place for old people to our community and so on. My last Reuter news, Bishop Bulos became Catholic, he is now in Beirut.

I met Juma Mohd. Khalil on the 15th of Nov. at the health department in Bethlehem, and asked him all the questions I asked Khalil Mousa, all the answers were exactly like Khalil Mousa, the differ[e]nce is that Juma has around 30 dunom’s of land in Toukou’a and he harves every year, but still I did not meet with Mohd. El Deeb, I hope some time in near future. Please keep informing me anything happens with Samuel. [Kiraz asks Trever not to mention the meeting with the Patriarch in order not to cause any friction between the Patriarch and his Metropolitan.] The main thing for us to get all materials in hand, and when is necessary to use it, so we will use it. Mrs. Kiraz and all the children send you and Mrs. Trever their salams. This is a new name from me to you Dr. John El Deeb2 to fear Samuel, don’t let him to fear you and good luck. Anton Kiraz

= $55,450 in 2002. ‘el-Deeb’ is Arabic for ‘bear,’ an epithet of a mighty man. The name of course is taken as a namesake for Mohammad El Deeb. 1 2

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Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967)

K-112

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

K-112

John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

November 30, 1966

Dear Anton, Thank you most kindly for your detailed letter of November 23 outlining your recent trips to Damascus. It is good that you had such a good hearing at the Patriarchate. It sounds as though you made real progress. I can assure you that all this is being kept confidential, for I would not want it to get abroad either. This is the kind of thing that needs to be kept in reserve in case of urgent need. I hope that will not be necessary, to be sure, but we do have to realize that legal action is the only thing that should read Matthew 18, which gives the Christian way to handle problems. He [i.e., Samuel] has not replied to my attorney’s letter. A few days ago I received a copy of Samuel’s new book (I had to order it from the publishers!), and I am writing today especially so you may be informed of how he is now handling your relation to the scrolls business. His book is entitled Treasures of Qumran: My Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls (paperback by Westminster Press, $2.65). His first reference to you comes on p. 155, as follows: In January, however, I was approached by one Anton Kiraz, a parishioner of St. Mark’s who had learned of the scrolls’ existence. Since I had been able to assist him through some financial difficulties in the previous October, he offered his aid by way of returning a favor. (A paragraph follows about your relation to Sukenik) I agreed to let him try his hand. How ironic it would be, I though, if at last I learned something definite about the scrolls through the mediation of a spasmodic church-goer who earned his living in the most modern of capacities – he taught people how to drive automobiles! Somehow, Anton was successful. They met at the library of the Y.M.C.A. in Jerusalem which was situated in a security zone known as Zone B on Julians’ Way. The librarian, Malak Tannourji, a member of St. mark’s congregation, permitted them to use his office and was a quiet witness to their transactions. (Then comes a paragraph about Sukenik’s examination of the scrolls, ending with:) He promised to return them by the end of the week. Anton

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agreed. A few days later, the professor asked for an extension of two or three days. Again, Anton agreed. On the appointed day, they met again at the Y.M.C.A. in the presence of Mr. Tannourji. The professor said that the university was interested in purchasing them and that he was certain that they were very old indeed. Anton agreed to negotiate with me and promised he would communicate with the professor shortly. On February 6, the scrolls were back in my possession, and though the interest of the university was revitalizing, it still did not answer my questions: (the paragraph continues with a focus on academic interests in the scrolls). On page 168, the following appears: Early in September another letter from America stated that in a published account of the discovery of the manuscripts as released through a Heb-University-oriented publication, my soi-disant partner was none other than the driver-trainer, Anton Kiraz. The account went on to announce that preparations were being made to publish facsimiles from both the Isaiah Scrolls! Needless to say, I was astonished. The photos taken by Dr. Trever had never left St. Mark’s. How could they then be published? Then I realized that back in the early winter, still not knowing what the scrolls contained, I had permitted Anton Kiraz to arrange a showing to Professor Sukenik. They had remained in his possession ten days. Time enough for anything. On p. 174 he mentions receiving a letter from you telling about your illness, but emphasizing that in it you said nothing about a claim to ownership with the scrolls. He concludes that paragraph: “but since he was apparently not pursuing that nonsense and since by his letter I presumed that he did not know I had learned of his activities, I took his plea at face value and sent him a hundred dollars. that I had recently realized from Dr. Trever’s sale of photographs.” The upshot of all his statements about you in his book are essentially the same which he made me write in 1949 for the Biblical Archaeologist. Thus he continues to hold his old line. My greatest shock from his book came, however, in the last four pages on which he publishes the fragments from Cave I that I worked so hard on in 1949 and published last January (apparently the copy of the offprint I sent you never arrived, though the one I sent to Yusif Saad did finally arrive – so you could see it at the Museum – it is in Revue de Qumran #19). Samuel has published these same fragments with photographs apparently taken recently, and they show terrible signs of disintegration. They are in a jumbled mass, showing signs of careless handling. It made me feel sick all over to see what they looked like. I do hope that something can be done to

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get them out of his hands to save what is left of them. What a tragedy for biblical scholarship! How is the pressure cooker working? Is it proving as useful as we had hoped it would? Greetings to all. Cordially, John C. Trever [P.S.] Carole Bohn at the ASOR could show you their copy. I am all out!

Can you send me the name and address of your Patriarch?

K-113 Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967) K-113

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

John C. Trever

December 3, 1966 Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter dated Nov. 17 arrived week ago, with 3 nice pictures, I have the one of the paysents, we thank you very much for the pictures, […]1 I don’t know if you knew that Samuel’s book is in the market, his Beatitude showed me a copy, but there was no time for me to read, I don’t know if he sent you a copy, you sent him a copy of your book. The Eastern people always likes to give troubles, so I am one of them, in reality my wife is one of them, because she is preferring California2 for its weather, she is too sensitive. So it seems our last decision is to come to California. Which city in California is the best you think? Anyhow we shall see how it works. In my next letter I will send you the slips of the journals you sent me, with marks on, about the job’s I prefer(e). But as a mechanic not bad too, if they give me training. I end my letter with our best wishes to all of you. Cordially Yours, Anton Kiraz

1 2

Family matters. Trever was helping the Kiraz family to immigrate to America.

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K-114 John C. Trever

K-114

Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan December 18, 1966

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter dated Nov. 30, 1966 arrived sometime ago, and also your lovely present, the Holy Bible to Guita arrived too. But Guita didn’t see it yet, she will see it at Christmas holidays and I am sure she will like it very much, because it is a very nice book. Thank you very much indeed.

According to what you mentioned about Samuel’s book, as his first reference to me comes on p. 155, he says that he assist me through some financial difficulties in the previous October. I offered my aid by way of returning a favor. I think he forgot all my favors to him befor[e] October as: giving a party at the Villa Rose Mary in Jan. 1947, and [Kiraz now is quite upset and he lists to Trever many of the favors that he did for Samuel.] He says, I was doing my living threw teaching people how to drive, he forgot that I taught him too [how to drive], and this cost me over 30 sterling1 and this was in 1937-1938, he forgot […], he forgot the several trips in my cars, and with me to every were in Palestine […], these are all proved by pictures in my postion and his, he forgot the piece I made between him and the community [i.e., the dispute between the Metropolitan and his community in 1946], this was also before the said Oct. Anyhow if I want to make write all what I did for him, I have to make a book. So I’ll leave it at present. According to what he mentions on p. 174 that I did not said nothing about a claim to ownership with the Scrolls, he forgot that I met with Dr. Sellers and told him about the Scrolls soon I heard this claim, because I didn’t know his address at the time, it seems he forgot also a letter from my advocate to him dated Aug. 18th, 1949 from Beirut by registered mail, a copy is available with me with port receipt of Lebanon, then if so, why he sent me Rev. Malak to the Sanatorium in Lebanon? Really Dr. Trever I don’t know what to write and what to leeve when I read his book I will give you my opinion for future steps. The pressure cooker is excellent, needs only food in it to cook, we are doing very gook with it, we thank you very much, you will find the name and address of the Patriarch behind this letter. Christmas greetings to all of you. Anton Kiraz

1

ca. $1,500 in 2002.

K-115 Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967) K-115 John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan January 4, 1967

Dear Dr. Trever, We received you both in our home coming from the mount of Olives at Christmas, in 1966 just few days ago, with our lovely present of J.D. 17 and 800 fils, which we used as buying gifts for the children and Mrs. Kiraz, but I was nock-out of that present. Which we had really nice time this Christmas, with our lovely Christmas present. We are all very thankful to you and Mrs. Trever. We hope after you left our home soon after Christmas you reached to your home safely, we hope at some Christmas with the will of Lord, we will come to your home with the complete family. […] I forgot to tell you in my former letters that Mrs. Owen Kraft from Pittsburgh, asked from me to send her a creshe, and told me that she saw at Kando’s shop while she was in Jordan, and he asked 120 dollars, I sent her a better creshe for 75 dollars with 4 extra pieces few months ago. She told me that you gave her my address. […] Regarding California, we thought of it only for the weather matter for the sake of Nijmeh, but the case of work is more important, the way it works we have to do, you know much better than us. How it works we will work. We send you all our best regards. P.S.: Guitta thanks you for the Bible, she liked it very much, she will write you from the school later. Cordially, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

February 8, 1967 Dear Dr. Trever, We did not heard from you long ago, I had received from Samuel for the first time an oral message threw Mr. Abdel Masih Tannourji before a month the brother of Mr. Malak Tannourji, who left Jordan before about six months to America, and he return[e]d to Jordan on buissness, and so he carried this message. The message is, why I am against him and I am giving you all the(e)se informations, I should not do this, and what I will gain of being after him. And he told to Mr. Tannourji to stop being against him. Mr. Tannourji is back again to America. All what I said to Mr. Tannourji is. He knows what he did with me. I met him with my wife and my cousin for 30 minutes only, just before he leaves back to the States in Amman. And Mr. Tannourji told me that Samuel asked him about my situation, and Mr. Tannourji said to him, that I am alright and I am managing myself. […]1 In reality Dr. we want to try our best to gather the family in one place, and not to be split, as the example says, in unity we will be more strong. Any how what I want at present for my cousin is to make inquiries about what I mentioned above. […]

[…] Any new things from Samuel please let me know. I did not have the chance to see Mohammad Ed Deeb yet, if you need the informations urgent, let me know. I will go and find him. Our best regards to you and your family. Sincerely Yours, Anton Kiraz

1

Family matters.

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

March 22, 1967

Dear Anton, I see I owe you thanks for several items, including your lovely Christmas card. The pressure of my work has been so great that I have not been able to do any of the extras that I like to do, so forgive my tardiness. In fact, I should right now be working on my courses for next quarter which begins next Tuesday. I will, however, take time for a brief not[e] to you; so at least you will know that we are thinking of you, especially at this Easter time. I received a nice note from Gitta in January, and please thank her when you see her. […]

I was glad for the additional information about your relations to Samuel in you letter of December 18. Since receiving his threatening letter (through his attorney), I have heard nothing further. As far as I know my attorney has not received any reply to his letter, either. This is all to the good. (Trever speculates here that Samuel is intending to silence Kiraz, and suggests that Kiraz may want to make a “direct charge” against Samuel.1) […] Mrs. Trever has called the immigration office and obtained considerable information for you cousin. We will send that to him directly. […] Under separate cover and via surface mail I am sending you a package of color photographs, including the ones I took of your Arab Refugee friends last Easter. I must stop now and get on with other letters, the pile of which is high. may the Easter Season be a joyous one for all of you. Most cordially, John C. Trever

Dear Nijmeh,

You would be pleased, I know, that all the lovely clothes you made for me last spring are receiving much use. I have worn them all many

1

Kiraz did not take such a move.

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times, and think of you and you kindness to me as I do so. Happy Easter! Most cordially, Elizabeth

K-118 Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967) K-118

John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan April 5, 1967

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter dated March 22, 1967 arrived sometime ago, […] I like to let you know that it is for the first time I saw such strong rain in our country and snow exactly at Easter day, this was something unordinary in our country, I am typing this letter and strong rain is coming from heaven. As well Syria and Lebanon had plenty of snow and rain.

I met with our Patriarch on the 28th. of March just few days ago, and I met with him also before three weeks ago too. He told me that you wrote him a letter notifying him that Samuel has a hidden Scroll in his position, and asked him if he can do something about it. He told me […] he doesn’t know if he can do something about it. And he told me also that he wrote to Samuel about the threatening letter which he wrote to you threw his attorney, […] read Samuel’s book word by word (The Treasure of Qumran) more than the half was the story of his life, which has happened with every Christian person that time from the Turk’s.1 The language is high, which is for sure is not his language, some one helped him, and arranged his book, every person knows him, they know that some salt was added in the story. And of course he mentioned everything is good, and what good he did. But he did not mention […] (taking) the Scrolls from one of the best friend for him […] Of course this did not happen during his life to put them in his book. Anyhow let me point to you an important thing, in his book. He avow’s that from July 21 till Aug. 5 when he bought the Scrolls, he use to have only 60 dinars in the world, now if you read again his book from page 146 to 149 you will see [the discrepancy in his story], according to that note of 540 pounds which dates about 2 months later. (two reasons of having only 60 dinars in the world) first reason is because he [was swindled]. Second reason: how he gave me 540 dinars just after around two months of his purchase of the Scrolls and he use to have only 60 dinars in the world,

This is a reference to the genocide of the Christians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, especially during World War I. 1

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here you are Dr. Trever. This what he avow’s in his book. Treasure of Qumran. Also on page 178 he says, under not to return to Jerusalem, I had paid for them with every penny I personally possessed. So my dear after purchasing the Scrolls Samuel, it didn’t remain with him any penny, so how he helped me with 540 dinars or Palestinian pounds? So it seems Dr. I have to make a third book, you made one, Samuel made one it is my turn to make one, but with who’s help. I think with the Lord’s help. I think I have to come to an end because it is a long letter, I am sure I am going to take much of your time, to read the letter and to think over the matter again, and to dream between two persons one religious high and rich person and another a civil and poor and thrown in a corner in Bethlehem. Our best wishes to all of you. Yours Truly, Anton Kiraz

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K-119 Dear Mrs. Trever, Real[l]y I am pleased you liked the dresses I made for you. I hope that I can do more for you. The children were hear for Easter holidays, but unfortunate the we[a]ther was not good, rain and snow. They mentioned you and said let’s go to the Airport to see uncle Trever and aunt Elizabeth. We received from the Chinns their picture and their daughter and also the pictures of our son George’s baptism. They are all nice. Mr. Hamilton the paster of Maan best to America. I hope your sons are in good health an doing good in their Colleges and we are very thankful to your help toward us in many ways. May the Lord be with you all. Your sincerely, Njimeh

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem JORDAN

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

April 22, 1967

Dear Anton, It was good to receive your letter of April 5 and all the news and information which you enclosed. As for the gift which your cousin has brought to you for us, I am sorry to hear that he felt this was necessary. Certainly what he did for us last year in providing a car to take us all through Lebanon was more than anyone should expect by way of kindness. We are certainly grateful for this gesture on his part and appreciate his thoughtfulness. […]

It is interesting to note that you have been again in contact with the Patriarch in Damascus, and I appreciate your comments on your visits. Apparently the reason my attorney has not heard from Samuel is explained in your letter. Yes, I had noticed in Samuel’s book the evidence which discredits his claim concerning the note, and I felt as you did about it. […] I presume you have not had any contact with Muhammad edh-Dhib recently, but I hope before you leave that area you will have an opportunity to inquire of him concerning the questions which I sent to you some months back. There is no urgency about it, for I shall not be working on that subject for some months yet. Mrs. Trever appreciated the note which your good wife added to your letter, and we both send you our best wishes and trust that all works out for you future plans. Most cordially yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan

John C. Trever

June 4, 1967

Dear Dr. Trever,

Your letter dated March 22, 1967 arrived sometime ago with the nice pictures, […] And also your letter dated April 22, 1967 arrived sometime ago too, I sent a thanking letter to Miss Della Koester few weeks ago. Till now we did not received any news from the American Embassy yet, as soon as we will receive I will let you know. It seems we have to wait out turn. […]

I have visited the patriarch again on the 23td. of May and asked him if he can help me to get me the account of Samuel from the Arab Bank all during 1947, because no body can do this except Samuel himself, but threw the patriarch it may be done. He gave me a letter to our new Metropolitan [Luka Sha‘ya] in Jerusalem to do it for me. So I hope in this way I will succeed. […]. My cousin Thomas is now ready to proceed to the States as soon as possible. However he needs your assistance in securing him the Visa under Cat. 6, that is by arranging his sponsor, he does not require any financial assistance. So dear Dr. Trever, I will be very graetful if you do this favour for him.

Until here I was writing under Jordanian Crown – June 6, 1967 – Now I am writing under Israili occupation in all Palestine. So I need your kind favour to write to my cousin in Amman very urgent letter, telling him that we are all safe and in good health, and another letter to my sister in Beirut with the same purpose, and let her in her turn to write to my sister in Kuwait. This will finish like that. Since I knew you Dr. Trever I have passed in several occasions very hard days, either my wife became ill or other kind of things, but I never tried to ask any financial help. Although I received lot of helps from you and threw you, but in this letter I am forcing to my fingers to write and ask you any financial help it

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will be very very much appreciated. Because we are all out of work and the children are at home beside my parents and specially my sick mother which she is in need for medicine as far as she is living. But if you think that this demand is a bit difficult, just please forget about it and we will leave our heaviness on LORD. Then he will arrange as he wishes. I will post this letter as soon as we will have a post office in Bethlehem. I end my letter with an advance thanks to all troubles I am giving you in this letter. May the LORD be with you all, as well with us in these very difficult days. Faithfully Yours, Anton Kiraz

K-122 Kiraz’s Reaction to Samuel’s Treasure of Qumran (1966-1967) K-122 John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem June 22, 1967

Dear Dr. Trever, Today I have been introduced to a very nice person Mr. Jack Handeli from Jerusalem he is original[l]y Greek. He lives in Katamon so I am sending the letter which I wrote to you on June 4 and could not send regarding the way, he is going to post it for me from Jerusalem, because still we don’t have post office in Bethlehem. I have sent you an urgent letter dated 25.6.67 as I remember threw a friend who went to Amman and told him to posted from Amman. I don’t know if this letter arrived to you. May[ ]be both letters will arrive one after other. Tempererly I can use the address of my new friend if you like to send me letters to his address and he will bring them to my house in Bethlehem. His address is as follows: Mr. Jack Handeli Jerusalem, Tchemichousky 59A, P.O. Box 92, Jerusalem Israel. I have sent also to my cousin two letters with different friends who went to Amman leaving West Jordan. I hope he received them and told him to write to my sisters. I am sending letters, but no answers, because no way to them to answer me. Our best regard to Mrs. Trever and to your nice sons and to you. May the Lord be with you all. Yours Truly, Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Street Bethlehem Israel

Dear Anton,

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

July 17, 1967

All our hearts are indeed heavy over the tragedy which has once again befallen the Holy Land. We have thought much about our many friends there and have awaited bits of information about them with eagerness. We were most pleased to receive two letters from you, one postmarked Amman and the other Jerusalem. The former seems to give us better insight that the latter which carried the indication of censorship on it. […] I am also sending you a letter directly, but I have to be careful in it because of the probability that it will be censored. Your cousin in Amman has written to us, and Elizabeth answered immediately, since I was away when his letter arrived. He wants to send some help for you through us, so we have assured him that we will find a way to transmit it to you. In the meantime we send something which we hope will help a little. We are trying to help many others also through several channels. As soon as we can be sure that the channels are clear, we will try to do more, for we know how great the need is. It is my hope that now you will be able to make direct contacts concerning your property near Talpioth. Keep alert for the opportunity. […] We know that your trials are many, but we pray that God will provide you strength to endure and conqu(o)[e]r in the struggle. Please give our warm regards and best wishes to your wife and children. It is good that they are all unharmed. We trust your wife is not seriously ill. God bless you all. Most cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Street Bethlehem Israel

227

John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

July 18, 1967

Dear Anton,

It was so good to receive your two letters from different sources and learn that your family had escaped the ravages of war. We have been deeply concerned about you and many others, some of whom we have still not heard from. […] In view of your situation now, it seems logical to me that you should be able to lay claim to your [Talpioth] property directly, though I will see if I can help pave the way. Under the present circumstances, of course, the matter may be a bit sticky, but I will watch the situation closely to see what can be done. […]

I appreciate your additional efforts in the matter relating to Samuel. Apparently the Patriarch’s communications with Samuel have stopped whatever actions he was contemplating against me, for my attorney has heard nothing further. We are proceeding to put out a German translation of my book in which I hope to include the materials which were omitted by Revell for fear of Samuel. I have no more concern about him now, thanks to your efforts at establishing the truth. I must stop and get this to the post-office for the next mail, so you will get it as soon as possible, in-shaallah! Greetings to all your family, and I do hope that the children can return to Talitha Kumi in September. Their support will continue, you can be assured. We hope to get word from there about the plans and possibilities. Our check was sent in late May fortunately. We sincerely pray that the good Lord will guide and strengthen all of you in these trying times. Be assured of our best wishes and continuing prayers for your safety and care, and we will do what we can to assist in a material way, as I know your cousin is eager to do also. Elizabeth sends her warm regards and best wishes. Yours sincerely, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. August 10, 1967

Dear Anton, Elizabeth and I just returned from a few days in northern Canada, and we find your two letters here. Thanks for writing. […] I will write later more fully. Most cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz Bethlehem Israel

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Elizabeth Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

September 16, 1967

Dear Friends, We were pleased to hear from you on Friday; your letter came through very quickly this time. […] Apparently my husband had not yet acknowledged you previous letter of August 10th, but rest assured that we wrote immediately to your cousin in Amman, as well as to your sister in Beirut, giving them the news you had requested. We are sorry indeed to learn of the passing of your mother, Anton. Although she had been in ill health for so long, it is always hard to let them go when the time comes, we know. Our sympathies are with your father and all the members of the immediate family in the loss of your mother. […] We hope this finds all of you well and that you will keep in tough with us as time permits. How is “King George”? We saw the Shinns a few weeks ago, and they told us they had received your gift for their daughter (which I mailed to them last fall) and that it fit her nicely. They had their daughter with them and we enjoyed getting acquainted with her. She is an alert child, very friendly. Now I shall leave a bit of room on the back for my husband to add some words. With all good wishes, Elizabeth Trever

Dear Friends,

It was good to know that our letter and check had arrived safely, and we hope it provides a little stop-gap assistance; and we are most pleased to hear again from you. At the time your letter of August 10 arrived, I had time only for sending letters to your sister and her husband and thus was unable to respond to you directly, but we have held your family in our prayers and concerns nonetheless. […] May God bless and guide all of you. Most cordially, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

Dear Dr. Trever,

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Jordan October 25, 1967

Your Newsletter #1 of the Jordan Mission Project 66-67 January, 1967 arrived few days ago, and we were very happy when we read Theodora’s name and Guita’s name in your Newsletter. […] Your letter dated Sept. 16 arrived almost 3 weeks ago and I am very sorry to give you troubles while you are too busy in your works, but the circumstances obliged me to trouble you, I am sure your feelings are with us. As for my property or any others properties special[l]y the Westbank people hopes are very poor, and it seems if the situation will not be settled with the Arab-Governments I don’t think there will be any hope although I am n(i)[e]gotiating with the authorities and individuals, only nice talks and feelings, but nothing real work up till now, and no light even for near future. […] Please give our best regards to anyone who enquires about us and to all friends there, specially the Shinn’s. I am not writing because I don’t want to troubling him of writing to me, because he is studying and our regards to Mrs. Trever, Mr. John and Mr. Jim and to every member of your family. May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

February 23, 1968

Dear Anton, I have your letters of December 17, January 10 and Jan. 24 and appreciate hearing from you with your recounting of recent developments. […] You have probably heard from Mr. Perley of New Jersey (Clifton) by now. He is an Assyrian lawyer and quite influential in the Syrian community where Samuel is living (but Perley and Samuel and not friends!). I talked with him at legth last December when I met him in New York and showed him your two affidavits. I urged him to consider, with other Syrians, assisting you in your present business situation. I hope you made an error in your references to the Ta’amireg Bedouins, for if not you have created problems for me! You mention Juma’ Muhammad Ahmad El-Hamid. I thought we had established the fact that it was Juma’Muhammad Khalil, and Muhammad ed-Dhib was Muhammad Ahmad el-Hamid. I hope this was just a slip, therefore, for my book is published! […]1 I have received several detailed reports about the scroll secured from Kando. One claim has it that several other scrolls are involved also. Thanks also for your letter from Amman with your sister’s. It is good to know that you could visit her and her family. […] Sincerely yours, John C. Trever P.S. Thank you so much for the lovely olivewood bowls. It was good of you to remember us in this way. I wonder if you know if they have been treated with oil or varnish to protect the surface when in use - or should they be waxed? Greetings to Nijmeh! Elizabeth

1

Trever refers to a meeting that took place between Kiraz and Yigael Yadin.

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Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel March 22, 1968

Dear Dr. Trever, Your letter dated Feb. 23, 68 arrived sometime ago. I am sure that you are always too busy. […] I received a letter from Mr. Perley,1 which he asked me about my opinion about Samuel I answered him long ago. I did not receive(d) any other letters from him. I met Juma Muhammad Khalil few days ago in Bethlehem. He came back from Amman just week ago. I am sorry that I mentioned Juma’s name as Juma Muhammad Ahmad El Hamid, without paying attention. I copied this from your letter dated Dec. 18, 67. I did not pay attention to the comma, after Muhammad Ahmed El Hamad name which he comes just after him, this was only a slip. Excuse me for it. My visit to Yigael Yadin was an ordinary visit we mentioned you in our talk, specially about your book and he said that your book is very interesting book, specially about the story from the beginning until the end how it was found by the bedouins until reached to America. We did not mention any thing about your “Open Letter” even it was not in my mind. What I wrote to you it was my opinion and as a jock. […] I end my letter keeping some spaces, because my mind is not working. Our best wishes to you all. May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

1

This letter is not on file.

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz

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John C. Trever Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. June 3, 1968

Dear Friends, Thank you for your letter of March 22. […] I decided to send you a number of items that may be of interest to you. I enclose a copy of an article which was published as one result of my Sabbatical leave in 1966, also an article I published after my 1958 trip, long ago. Also I send a copy of the revised edition of my “Open Letter...” which resulted from numerous dialogues with Zionists here. I am now writing a chapter for a book on this subject. There are many scholars who are concerned about the situation, as I am, and we are getting together on a book. Also I enclose a card of our Chapel building where I work and numerous color photographs, some of which may be duplicates, but I thought you might like to have them. A few are from some experiments I have been doing on the DSS to preserve the color of the originals. I have had to waste a lot of film experimenting, so some of the prints are from some of those tests and not too good.

I hope you gave Mr. Perley some accurate information about the questions he asked […] For the past three months I have been on a research leave, during which I have concentrated pretty heavily on the Dead Sea Scroll problems which I have wanted to publish. I spent two weeks at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. to trace resources, and it was a very fruitful time. […]1 I am making some big plans for publications of some materials, and I hope they do all work out. At least I shall make a noble attempt to carry them all out. Thus I shall continue to be busy through the summer before plunging into teaching again in the fall. We trust that your problems are smoothing out some now, and we all send you our cordial best wishes. Remember us to the children. Cordially, John C. Trever

1

Unrelated matter.

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel August 16, 1968

Dear Dr. Trever, I received your letter dated June 3, 1968 […] Mr. Perley sent me a letter in Jan. 68 in which he asked my opinion about Samuel, I answered his letter immediately last Jan. giving him a short view of Samuel since that I never heard again. I went on the 28th of July to St. Mark’s Convent in Jerusalem and visited your good friend as well as mine Metropolitan Samuel in the big saloon which you and me visited Metropolitan Boulos few tears ago. As you know our tradition in the East, when someone comes from a far place, everyone goes to welcome him, specially as a Bishop or a personality. So I thought it will be advisable first to send my wife and see how it looks the picture. So in the same date and before noon, I sent my wife with the children, and he welcomed her with smiles and asked her why Anton did not come, she told him he is going to come and see you, of course there was people in the saloon. So I went in the afternoon, he welcomed me with a long smile, we talked a lot about America, and the situation of our community in the state, and the churches which he built in the State and the Churches he still wants to build and so on, of course there was people from the community all the time as well our Jerusalem Metropolitan [Luqa Sha‛ya] and the rest of the monks too, and this longed three hours, I thought in mind to invite him to our house and to open the subject in a nice way and see the situation because the present circumstances here it doesn’t give me any chance to make it other ways. At the last when I want to leave, I invited him as I thought in mind, but he did not accept neither refused, he said I don’t have time, I want to leave in two or three days, I told him let me see you before you leave and have him my telephone number 661 Bethlehem he said I will try. Suddenly a week after, he did not come specially, but by the way he was passing with the priest of Bethlehem and some of the members of our community in front of my shop in Bethlehem, and he entered to my shop with his company, just to say Hello to me he said, only for 3 minutes exactly, I reinvited him, but for the second time he did not accept, by saying again, I am leaving after tomorrow and busy with thanking me. This was exact picture of my communication with his grace, and of course there was no any other way for me to do,

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specially as I mentioned before about present circumstances, because we are under Military judgement. He left from here to Turkey. Our girls school will be open at the end of Aug., and George also will go to T[alitha] K[umi]. every morning and he will be back home about 4 P.M. Dr. Trever no light for our future in this country, and no hope also about our properties, this what seems to me, and the sooner is the better to leave it seems, but still I like to wait a little more and see, although just wasting time, let us hope. Is there any plan for you to visit this country once again next year? May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

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Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz Bethlehem Israel

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Mr. and Mrs. John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A.

September 12, 1968

Dear Nijmeh and Anton, We think of you often, and of your precious children, and hope you are all well. […] Our very best wishes to you and the children, and do keep in touch with us. Sincerely, Elizabeth

Dear Friends, […] Also I have a lengthy report from Dr. Massou about the proposed Arabic edition of The Untold Story of Qumran. He gives detailed information about the various publishing costs involved. On the basis of his figures, I am confident that we will be able to go ahead with the translation. The problem will center around distribution and promotion of the book in the Arab world with communications so disrupted as the[y] are. I presume the main centers of interest in it will be Beirut, Arab Palestine and Jordan. A note from our Dean today says he has an idea and will discuss it with me when we meet on September 23 for a special discussion of Dead Sea Scroll matters. […] All good wishes to you and your family. Most cordially, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel September 27, 1968

Dear Dr. Trever,

We received your letter dated Sept. 5, 68 and Mrs. Trever’s letter dated Sept. 12, 68, […] As you know our 3 daughters plus George are in Talitha and we are glad that he is happy in school, every morning tell’s me baba let us go down and wait for Talitha Bus, before long of it’s time. He leaves at 7:30 and returns at 4:00 P.M..

We wish you and Dr. Massou all success in translating the Untold Story of Qumran. So the Arabs also will have the chance to read such important history book and understand it will especially people as Anton Kiraz.

May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

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John C. Trever

Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel May 14, 1969

Dear Dr. Trever, This morning while I was in the market, I met with Khalil Musa and I brought him to our house, and I questioned him as you have mentioned, anyhow all the figures are approximately, you know this people even don’t know their ages exactly. He said, during the six days war Mohd. Ed Deeb and Juma were in Facaiel (Farcia) and they run a way to the other side of the River, but he was with his goats in Tekua (Taamreh) before the 1967 war about three months, he said if we were also there we did the same in crossing the River to the other side. He said Mohd. Ed Deeb use to have at that date around 80 Flocks, but now he doesn’t know, because Mohd. Ed Deeb never came back to this side and he never visited Amman since the war. He said also that Juma’s wife was in Bethlehem that time, so after the war, she asked for her husband and the little son permission to bring them to Bethlehem, and so they came, after the approval for her application. Khalil Musa’s family ar as follows: the first son Musa has 3 boys and 2 girls, at present he is sick in T.B. and he is in a hospital somewhere near Ramleh, he doesn’t know the name of the hospital. The second son Salameh has 4 boys and a girl, these two son’s everyone living alone. The third son Sliman has 3 girls and the fourth son Mohammad has no children, and his wife is angry she is with her parents, these two son’s are living with the father Khalil Musa and their mother, they use to have during the six days war about 100 flocks, but later died around 25 they have at present 75 flocks. and these flocks belongs to three of them, the father and the two son’s who are living in Facaiel for the last 20 years, and he has no any land in Taamreh, but before the six days war he bought a piece of land one dunom and half in Bethlehem for two hundred and fifty J.D. Khalil Musa said that he have around 60 dunom’s of land in Taamreh near Tekua. He made last year about 180 Kgs. of lentil, wheat around 900

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Kgs. and some Barley, and he says that their situation is not like before, they are in a worse condition now. […]1 I sent you a letter on May 7th. 67.

May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

1

Unrelated matter.

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Meeting Yigael Yadin (1968)

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Mr. and Mrs. Kiraz Bethlehem Israel

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Mr. and Mrs. John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 U.S.A. December 7, 1969

MERRY CHRISTMAS – 1969 Dear Anton and Nijmeh,

We have thought of you many times since we were in your midst during the summer and hope that you are all well and as happy as can be expected under the circumstances of living in a troubled land. We trust that the children are all well, and perhaps soon they will be with you once again for the holiday season. Our special greetings to each one of them: Gitta, Alaria, Theodora and George. I shall be playing the harp at our church on the Sunday before Christmas and expect to wear the lovely green dress (with lace top) you made for me in 1966, Nijmeh. I have worn already the lovely green print you made this summer, but I am saving it mostly for the Spring months. […] Sincerely, Elizabeth

Dear Friends, I greatly regret the fact that I have not corresponded with you as I had hoped, but the problems surrounding the Arabic translation of my book have been interminable, and I have had to use what little time I had to correspond with Dr. Massou about the many problems. I have now received a copy of the finished product and I am most pleased. They have been able to complete 300 copies. Please check with Dr. Massou to see if these copies are now being distributed, and perhaps you will have some channels through which some copies can be sold. The frightful costs which went far beyond the budget that I was allowed have made it necessary for me to raise the price to 9 Il, or 900 fils, and it is going to be important to sell every possible copy to brea[k] even. Any help you can give will be appreciated. I would appreciate your comments on the Arabic translation, if you feel so inclined.

Sincerely yours, John C. Trever

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Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Street Bethlehem via Israel

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John C. Trever 183 Fourth Avenue Berea, Ohio 44017 USA

July 23, 1975

Dear Nijmeh and Anton, I regret the long delay in answering Gitta and Nijmeh’s letter of April 29 and Anton’s of June 25. […]. One of my main purposes right now in writing is to ask a favor of you, Anton, for I am in the midst of revising and bringing up to date my Untold Story of Qumran book which is completely out of print now (in English) and a publisher is going to put out a paperback edition next spring, for which I am very grateful. I am just working on Chapter 12, and I need further help on a small point on pages 106ff. Is Mrs. Roginah Marzurqa still living in Bethlehem? If so, could you get her to answer a few simple review questions and report them back to me as soon as possible? The questions are: 1. Do you remember the Armenia antiquities dealer in the Old City of Jerusalem? His name was “Ohan.” 2. If so, do you recall his coming to your home to secure antiquities from Faidi Salahi? 3. Do you recall if he came at any time in 1947 with Dr. Eliezar Sukenik from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem? 4. More specifically, do you recall his coming with Dr. Sukenik on November 29, 1947 and personally receiving the Dead Sea Scrolls and two jars which he later published? Since question 4 is the crucial one, you might wish to approach it more cautiously by asking first: Do you remember Dr. Sukenik’s coming to visit Faidi Salahi anytime in November 1947, shortly before the announcement of Partition of Palestine at the United Nations? To get answers to these questions is very crucial for my new edition. I hope it will be possible to receive an answer before September 1st. […] Blessings on all of you from both of us. Our sons and their families are fine. Cordially, John C. Trever

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John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Bethlehem Israel August 13, 1975

Dear Dr. Trever, Your nice letter dated July 23, 75 arrived few days ago, thank you very much for your kind help toward us all. […] I met with Mrs. Rogina Marruga yesterday and asked her about your 4 questions are as follows: 1) She knows Mr. Ohan. 2) Mr. Ohan use[d] to come to Faidi Salahi often at the date and before the date you mentioned. 3) Yes he came with Mr. Dr. Eliezar Sukenik in 1947. 4) Yes both came on Nov. 29th 1947 and took the scrolls and the two jars. According to question 4 which is the crucial one, I made a long conversation with her. She said Mr. Ohan and Dr. Sukenik came around 3 or 4 times to see Mr. Faidi, and they use to put a small table on the roof of the house and sit together and they use to talk for a while, and I can say to the best of my rememb(e)rance the date was the partition day, because that day was unordinary day in Palestine so she said, I don’t know what to say, although I am sure from the day and date. But after around 2 for 28 years I don’t know what to say, then she said still I can say it was Nov. 29th 1947, I am most sure for that, after that she said if I am wrong, the fault will be over the long period. Now Dr. Trever you should make your decision if you ask me and after my long conversation with Mrs. Rogina, I can say it was Nov. 29th 1947, and I leave the rest for you to make your mind. First Sept. our daughters and George they go back to school […] Anton Kiraz

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Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Street Bethlehem, Israel

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John C. Trever 369 W. Radcliffe Dr. Claremont, CA. 91711 USA

January 13, 1983

Dear Nijmeh and Anton, HAPPY NEW YEAR! And I sincerely hop it will be just that for both of you. Elizabeth joins me in these sentiments. At least you had George with you to make your Christmas a meaningful experience. But your three girls were with you in spirit. […] The last two Sundays we spent considerable time with Guita and her family, and she may have written about what happened to make it two Sundays! But Alariya and the Hindmans were there this last Sunday for the Baptism and subsequent festivities, so we were glad in a way for the postponement created by Mar Samuel!1 […] On January 2nd, when we arrived at the Syrian Orthodox (St. Aphram’s) Church in Hollywood for the baptism of Gilda, I was amazed to find Mar Samuel conducting the service. Afterwards I went up to speak with him, and he seemed not to recognize me; so Younan who was trying to get him to change his mind and do the baptism introduced me to him. Instantly he stiffened and then blurted out, “I want you to know that I told you only the truth.” […] I had not intended to say anything about the past, but he forced it, just as he did the last time I saw him in 1962. I responded by asking him if he had seen the new edition of my book, and he said he had not (I really thought I had sent him one.), so I said that I would send him one, and he gave me his card with his new address. When I learned that the baptism had been postponed, I decided to return the next week and present him with a copy. I had to buy a copy of his – did you ever get one?) I enclosed a carefully worded letter in it, explaining the problem I had with his statement of Jan. 2nd and requesting that he give me a list of passages by page and line with which he disagreed. Then I might be able to give him the evidence on each issue. I doubt he will do that. He was much more gracious the following Sunday, and he even invited me 1 Guita, Kiraz’s daughter, who now lived in Los Angeles, planed a baptism of her daughter Gilda on January 2, which coincided with a pastoral visit by Samuel. As the Syriac tradition does not permit baptisms between Christmas and Epiphany, Samuel had it postponed until the following Sunday.

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to participate in the baptism. I had promised Guita that I would take pictures, however, so I declined.

Now I have reviewed the controversy he started in 1966, when he received the autographed copy I sent him in November 1965, and I note one item that I should ask from you. I need a clear English translation of that promissory note you gave him on Oct. 10, 1947. Also I need to know if you ever wrote to him about the pages of materials I copied and sent you in November of 1966 from his book. He so clearly denigrated you in what he published, that I wonder if you answered him at all. If you did, I would appreciate a copy of what you wrote. If not, I would appreciate your responding to the quotes I sent you with the evidence you would use to show his errors. What he wrote was certainly libelous, there is no doubt. Frankly, I do not expect him to raise anything more with me after reading the additional evidence I put in my new edition, where I referred to his book and its claims several times. But if he does, I would like to have your witness on file if needed. If you do not have his book to refer to, perhaps the Jerusalem Monastery of St. Mark’s would have it. Incidentally, so they have the Arabic edition of my Untold Story…? They should. I am working on a project right now that may make it necessary for me to make a short trip to Israel in the late spring, and it would need a supply of those Arabic editions of my book, too. It just might give you a little opportunity to participate, too; though it is too early to tell now. I have just written about the matter and suggesting that you should be consulted, but I do not know what kind of response I’ll get. […] All good wishes to both of you. Cordially, John C. Trever

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Anton Kiraz January 29, 1983

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Trever,

Your nice letter dated Jan. 13th., 1983 arrived on the 20th. of Jan. that is in seven days, this is the first time since many years, for usually takes from 12-14 days. […] Also we were happy that you both attend the Baptizm of Guilda with Rev. & Mrs. Hindman, the same day of Baptizm Younan opened the telephone line to us, and we talked, with Rev. & Mrs. Hindman, Younan and Guita. The reason of the postponement is according to our church, that during Christmas season they don’t baptizm untill St. John will Baptiz[e] Jesus Christ, and this is at 19th. of Jan., but may be to America, because they don’t have prayers during the week in the church they do it on Sunday, it is the difference of the 13 days between the Orthodox and the Catholic.

I don’t have Samuel’s book neither I read it, I went to St. Marc’s church few days ago, and asked them if they have a copy, as well asked them if they have the Untold Story of Qumran & in Arabic, because I gave them three copies long ago, they don’t know if they have, they must look and see, but they can’t do this now, because they are repairing all the rooms in the Convent, of course this is going to take many months, every thing is upside down in the Convent. According to the promissory note I did one now as an a original note and translated to English nearly word to word, and about what you copied from his book and sent me in Nov. 1966. Surely I can say, that since May 14th.[,] 1948 no correspondence between me and Bishop Samuel except one letter I sent to him on June 8. 1949 from Azzounieh Hospital in Lebanon, I am sure he showed you this letter, if not let me know, I will send you a copy if you want. Anyhow to respond to what he wrote libelousing me in his book, the time will come to respond him face to face. But if you like to write and tell him the truth is always stronger than the goodness, because the dates of our trip to Lebanon […] and his return after […] prooves his [incorrect statements] of the promissory note although it was a helpful note to him. I think I told you the reason of giving him the mentioned note at the American School of Oriental res[ea](u)rch in your third or fourth trip to Jerusalem from behind.

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George will start his Govt. half examination of Tawjihi on Monday the 31st. of Jan., since about ten days he is studying day and night ex[c]ept he sleeps from 24 hours 7 or 8 hours. […] May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

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Mr. Anton Kiraz

At Gilda’s Baptism (1983)

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John C. Trever School of Theology at Claremont Dead Sea Scrolls Project February 10, 1983

Dear Anton, Thank you for your letters of Jan. 29th and also the 14th. Each took about eleven days to arrive here, so may last one to you was indeed a lot faster. Perhaps our P.O. made a New Year’s resolution to do a better job! […] Re: A.Y. Samuel—I had to buy Samuel’s book, though I gave him copies of three of my different books! That is par for his course! I believe you should have copies of my exchange of correspondence with him in 1966 about the note, after my USQ book appeared. I may not have sent them to you, so I enclose them herewith. They include a copy of the note made from the copy he sent me, also his letter in which it was sent, and then copies of my responses of February 5, 1966 and August 5, 1966. On October 10 he sent me (through his lawyer) a letter threatening a lawsuit, if I did not retract what I had said in my book. I told you about that at the time. My lawyer squelshed that! Thanks for your translation of the note which I can make out pretty well by comparison with the actual one, of which I assumed you had a copy. I believe it would be valuable for me to have a copy of your letter of June 8, 1949, to Samuel, which you sent from Azzounieh Hospital in Lebanon. I am not quite sure how the dates of your trip with him in September, 1947, to Lebanon would prove the note false; for, according to my information from our discussions, Samuel returned to Jerusalem on Oct. 1 and the note is dated Oct. 10th. I would appreciate your explaining this for the record. Yes, I remember our discussion about the note in Jerusalem in 1966. Samuel may reopen the issue after he reads my new edition (the DSS: A Personal Account) which I gave him on January 9th with a carefully worded letter inside, for in that edition I incorporate references to his book. He may not like that! […] All good wishes to you and yours, Most cordially, John C. Trever

K-141 K-141 Dr. John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz March 23, 1983

Dear Dr. Trever, Your nice letter dated Feb. 10th. 1983 arrived month ago enclose Samuel’s letter to you dated Jan. 5, 1966 and the note given by me to Samuel dated Oct. 10, 1947 and the two letters sent by you to Samuel dated Feb. 5, 66 and Aug. 5, 66 beside the cartoons, thank you very much for all of this, and sorry for tiereness you are getting. After two weeks of sending my last letter to you our son George was at St. Marks Monastery in Jerusalem our Monk father Shamon sent me Samuel’s book after arranging their library, and I read his book […] (Kiraz expresses here his dissatisfaction with Samuel’s version.) Now Dr. Trever I want to give some dates to you for that you make your mind, and believe to whom you like, I mean make your judgement. First please read his book page 149 what he says to Kando and the Bedwins and from were he had these Dinars while we use to use Palestinian pounds, and he says all the money I have in the World and what was the year and the date, and we all know that these Scrolls was boug[ht] sometime in 1947. Second Samuel […] and myself and with my car and I spent the expenses in the journey to Lebanon on Sept. 5, 1947 and I […] returned back from Syria and Lebanon on Sept. 19, 1947 and he returned back about one week later or few days more. My promisary note to him is also in Oct. 10. 1947. So soon he arrived back from Lebanon he rung me up and asked to go to him, and when I went to him, he told me about [his financial difficulties], now I can’t write a long story in a letter, you should go back and read the affidavit which we did at the American consulate in Jerusalem. […] Return back to the bedouins, you remember you sent me 63 questions as I remember. For how much, they sold the Scrolls to the Bishop they said in the record which I sent to you as the bedouins said, and what about the Dinars which the Bishop mentioning in his book. We never say Dinars at that time. I was buissness man. Coming to the driver-trainer, the driver-trainer teached three persons only Yeshue Samuel and got for him the driving license, without any cost paid for learning and no piaster for petrol even the cost of the license, because I taught him in my private car and two other good friends in the same way; these are all whom I teached. […] For the party I make for him at the Villa Rose Mary in German Colony? (Kiraz expresses that he made peace between Samuel and the community.)

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Enclose you find a photostatic copy of my letter to Samuel dated June 8, 1949 from Azzounieh Sanatorium, it seems the carbon was to one side more that the other. So I put on what is missing with pencil you can rub them if you want. Frankly this letter against the promissary note, because if he insists to ask this amount he could do it while I gave him this note to help him, but now he can’t ask by law after passing five years (5). George made his half year Govt. Tawjihi exams, he was the seventh in his class of twenty students and the only one from his former Lutheran school […] May the Lord be with you all. Anton Kiraz

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Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Street Bethlehem, Israel

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John C. Trever 369 W. Radcliffe Dr. Claremont, CA. 91711 USA

September 28, 1983

Dear Nijmeh and Anton, Your letter of Sept. 16th arrived yesterday, […] But another event, far more serious, further detracted me; and that was the sudden death of Dr. William Brownlee, who was like a brother to me – my brother in the DSS story! Just after the memorial service for him in which I participated, Elizabeth and I left the country for a long delayed trip – a much needed vacation. Ever since returning a month later I have been deeply involved in trying to edit and bring to publication many of Dr. Brownlee’s writings. There is urgency that I get the second booklet in the mil to New York this week, but I have paused to get this letter to you. It took me most of today to recover your letter and to analyze all the documents we worked out together many year ago on the problems raised by Samuel that complicated your life and mine. Anyway, let me assure you that the review of this material does make perfectly clear that your story is well documented and firmly established. You have been consistent in your evidence all through the years (which he has not!) and it will stand up in any court, I am convinced. I am working on a strategy to regain the confidence and trust of Samuel – I think I have succeeded quite a bit already, to judge by his last two letters. […] With Samuel coming occasionally to the St. Aphram’s church near where Guita lives, some good may accrue to the whole situation […]. I tried to get Samuel to consider using his influence to get a scholarship for George […]. The picture of George’s graduation is excellent. Many thanks for it. He has really grown up. He looks quite a bit like Younan. Please give him our congratulations for all the hard efforts, and our hopes that those efforts will lead him to much higher achievements. […] As for Nijmeh’s and George’s immigration visas, we are glad to know that this progress has been made. […] Blessings on all of you. May God sustain you. Most cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz October 8, 1983

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Trever, Your letter of Sept. 16th. arrived yesterday, and we are sorry that you lost one of your best friends, as well as your brother in the DSS story. We send you our deeply condolences. Good friends always feels as brothers, they are leaving and we are going to follow them, this is life, […] Dr. Trever you asked for our plan where to go or to come, our plan is to come Mrs. Kiraz and George to Los Angeles, Cal., they stay with Guita, so George will see Guita, Guilda, Younan and the rest of the family, off course you will see George and talk with him […] On the 24th of this month George is going to give a lecture in English language at Tantour near Bethlehem to doctors and professors about the History of the Aramaics in general and the Syriac people who lived in Palestine. May the Lord be with you all and bless you all.

Anton Kiraz

The Last Letter To Bethlehem (1985)

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Mr. Anton Kiraz Ras Ftais Bethlehem, via Israel

The Last Letter To Bethlehem(1985)

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John C. Trever 369 W. Radcliffe Dr. Claremont, CA. 91711 USA

April 4, 1985

Dear Anton, I am writing again, because a long awaited letter from Tel Aviv, has just arrived. I hope this letter will arrive in time for some contacts to be made (if possible) that I am sure would be a lift for you. Perhaps I have not mentioned my long association with Dr. Manuel Vider, a conservative Jew whose hobby is calligraphy (actually he is a radiology specialist). He was in Jerusalem in 1977 when the Hebrew edition of the “Temple Scroll” was first released and he immediately set about mastering the script on that manuscript so he could copy it perfectly. He has now made six copies of the 28 ft. long scroll (I have his third one here), and he really shows great skill. I also have his Isaiah “B” Scroll. In 1982 (during my heart surgery episode) I lost touch with him, for he suddenly left Memphis, Tennessee, where he was head of radiology in the Univer Hospital, though he had told me about his plan to establish a “House of the Scribe” at the Kibbutz Almog a couple of miles from Khirbet Qumran. I have finally had a letter of explanation for the silence and his address, which is 30 HaHistadrut St., Givataym, 53525 (that is near Tel Aviv). He wants me to supply him with some of my books to sell to tourists who visit the “House of the Scribe”. He has sent a Xerox copy of a brochure that has been prepared, but the photos reproduced so badly that I can hardly make them out, but they suggest that he has done a very nice job. He wanted me to be the “Honorary Director” of the “House”, but I have a feeling that the Israelis dissuaded him from that idea! Anyway, I would hope that somehow a few copies of the Arabic edition of my Untold Story of Qumran might be supplied to him, for him to use as he wishes (he hopes to interest some Palestinians in the center, and it could be a healthy contact totally outside the conflicts in the West Bank). I will be writing to him today about this and giving him your address and hopefully he will make contact with you. I know that you would be happy to meet him, for he is a wonderful person - I could easily call him a Jewish-

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Christian! He is kind and considerate. We have had him in our home here twice, and it was a great joy. Before you leave there, I do hope you can make contact and visit the “House of the Scribe”. I will explain to him that you might find it difficult to get to his place, but I am sure he will make it possible. I do not know about the present status of the Arabic edition of my book, but I am sure you could arrange to get some copies for him. I will suggest that he pay you something for the trouble. I will be sending copies of my DSS: A Personal Account to him from here, for I have all the remaining copies (only about 150 left!). Manuel’s Telephone number is (3) 76 4675. The House of the Scribe is Kibbutz Almog, Zip Code 90665. Let me know your plans for the future. All good wishes. John C. Trever

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In America (1985-1993)

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Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kiraz and George Kiraz

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John C. Trever School of Theology at Claremont Dead Sea Scrolls Project July 8, 1985

Dear Anton, Nijmeh and George, Enclosed, Anton, is my letter of last April, which has just been returned to me. You will note that I raised the problem of contacting Manuel Vider about getting some copies of the Arabic edition of my book for sale at the “House of the Scribe” at Almog near the Dead Sea. Please let me know if copies are still being stored and whom I might contact to make future arrangements for distribution which I keep hoping might be done. Also I enclose a copy of the article which is just now appearing in the June issue of the Biblical Archaeologist. I am very pleased with the way this has come out. It is the more popular edition of a larger section with more of the technical materials and additional supporting evidence which will be appearing late this year in a volume of essays in memory of Dr. William Brownlee. I hope all three of you will read carefully this article, and be sure to note the highlighted material on pp. 91 and 92, which was carefully written for orthodox and traditional Christians. You could be very helpful to me, if you would discuss this material among yourselves, and let me have the benefit of questions you have that it does not seem to answer. I am going to be looking for many traditionalists who will do this and act as spokes persons for getting discussions going in their churches in a sound and creative way. Hopefully the DSS connection will provide a new vehicle for opening up sound dialogue between Christians which is so much needed in these difficult days. I hope you will tie pp. 178-181 of my DSS:PA book to this article to enlarge the present realities about this information. We have some evangelism to do within our churches by means of this hoped-for break-through. Nijmeh, I hope you are improving in health now as your long period of uncertainties has provided new beginnings. Elizabeth sends her good wishes to you especially. We are very bus these days and have been unable to get your way. With my publishing and my transition here at my Project, and Elizabeth’s pre-occupation with canning the abundant fruit from our trees, we are really busy. We do hope to see Anton soon. I hope he is able to get some benefit from the auto activities by now. Hopefully his skills can be put to good use.

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George, I need to know your academic procedures now. Are you currently enrolled in classes? Are you now employed?’ Blessings on all of you. Greetings to all. Cordially, John C. Trever

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Mr. Anton Kiraz 5030 Maplewood Ave., #203 Los Angeles, CA 90004

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John C. Trever 369 W. Radcliffe Dr. Claremont, CA. 91711

May 12, 1988

Dear Anton,

I hope all is well with you and your family to whom Elizabeth and I send our warm greetings. As usual, I am deeply involved in research and writing, and I have just come across a problem that you may be able to help me with. I thought I had solved this many years ago, but I am not sure, so I must check it again. Perhaps you can find the answer through your church, or George may have it.

While re-writing the first chapter of my second color volume, I note that in my USQ and DSS:PA books that the week of April 7 to 13 was “Holy Week” in 1947, but our Holy Week that year was March 31 to April 6th. Since the eastern orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar, I wonder if that year Easter fell on April 13th. I vaguely recall discussing that matter with Metropolitan Samuel, but I want to be sure once again. Your Priest will have the evidence on it, I am sure. I am reliving my DSS experience on the 40th anniversary of my experience in Jerusalem with the Scrolls, but I presume you would rather forget that tragic year. I am sure you are pleased as I am that at last the media in this country is telling the story of Israel’s abuses of the Palestinians like they are. It is long overdue! But there is still a long and hard path ahead, I fear. All good wishes to you and yours. Sincerely, John C. Trever

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Mrs. Kiraz 1800 W. Badillo St., Apt. 222 West Covina, CA 91790

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Dr. and Mrs. John C. Trever 176-C Avenida Majorca Laguna Hills, CA 92653

August 31, 1993

Dear Nijmeh,

I hope you have recovered from your surgery and are back at home, so you will see this note. This afternoon I received a call from Connecticut by a scholar who is researching the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and he asked a question I hope you can answer, for I could not.

He needs to know if your husband’s name is Anton Daoud Kiraz, or just Anton Kiraz. I do not recall hearing Anton’s middle name, if it is Daoud. From some things he said about this person I felt he must be your husband. He said Anton Daoud had some relationship to the United States Consulate, and I do not recall that either. I hope you can set me straight on that, too! He has based his research on my book, “The Untold Story of Qumran”; and I do note that in my index I list his middle initial as “D”, which might stand for Daoud! Please give him my warm regards and I hope he is better now. John

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Dr. and Mrs. John C. Trever December 26, 1993

Dear Nijmeh, It was kind and thoughtful of you to keep us informed in recent months of the status of Anton’s health and then of his passing away a few days ago, so that we might arrange to attend his memorial service at your church in Burbank. We were pleased that so many of the members of your family could be there to comfort and support you at this difficult time for all of you. We would have liked to participate in the interment service and the luncheon at the church after that, and we regret we were unable to do so. We felt it was wise, on that pre-holiday day, to get on the road for home well ahead of the rush hour (which begins earlier each day, it seems) because 2-5 is always heavily travelled. Even then, we did not reach Laguna Hills until close to 2:30 — and we made no stop enroute. The next day we had another long drive to make, and we had not yet completed our preparations for that; hence every hour was precious. We sympathize with you in the loss of your beloved husband, and we hope that 1994 will be a brighter year for you. May God bless you all. Love, Elizabeth and John Trever

P.S. I called this morning, hoping to catch George before he leaves to return to England, but there was no answer. Please accept the enclosed check to assist you in these difficult times, and may God bless and sustain you. Sincerely yours, John