First-ever Major Exhibit on the Samaritans Opening at Museum of the Bible
WASHINGTON – On September 16, Museum of the Bible is opening a new exhibition with unprecedented access to the life, culture and history of the Samaritans, a 2,000-year-old community.
The exhibition was created in partnership with the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies under the direction of Dr. Steven Fine, Dean Pinkhos Churgin Chair in Jewish History. A panel discussion and documentary are part of the opening events.
The Samaritans have lived in the Land of Israel, beside their sacred mountain, for millennia. They trace their lineage back to the Israelite tribe of Ephraim. They are mentioned in biblical and rabbinic texts, but few people know that this ancient people still exists as a micro-community today in the modern world.
“Our exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to encounter the Samaritans as real people, from earliest biblical history to the present,” said Dr. Fine. “Fascinating artifacts and exquisite media create a truly memorable experience of the Samaritans and their relations with Jews, Christians and Muslims over millennia.”
The exhibition will spotlight the varied life and home experiences of the Samaritans, from Passover sacrifices to weddings. The rich religious life of the community is further illustrated with tales from the Samaritan elders and a special sukkah.
The exhibition assembles, for the first time, the most important artifacts preserved in museums and libraries the world over to illuminate the history of the Samaritans. These include paintings, manuscripts, priceless books, photography, ritual objects and significant archaeological discoveries from Greece, Italy and Israel.
“The Samaritans are a unique people whose story also reflects universal questions about identity, belonging and tradition,” said Dr. Jesse Abelman, curator of Hebraica and Judaica at Museum of the Bible. “We couldn’t be more excited to share their story with the world.”
The exhibition also features a large stone inscription loaned by the Israeli Presidential residence and the Israel Antiquities Authority. Originally from the medieval Samaritan synagogue in Kefar Kalil, the Samaritan Hebrew inscription was published by Itzhak Ben-Zvi, the second president of Israel and a scholar of the history of the Samaritans.
On September 15, the museum will host The Samaritans: Ancient and Modern preview event from 6:30–8:00 p.m. This virtual and in-person program will explore the history of the Samaritans through a panel discussion and first look at the exhibition.
On September 16 and 18, the museum will screen the documentary “The Samaritans: A Biblical People,” which reveals Samaritan life through conversations with members of the community.
The exhibition will be available on the museum's fifth floor through January 1, 2023, and is included with general admission. More information and tickets are available here.
September 15
A First Look at “The Samaritans”
Exhibition is open to guests registered to attend the panel discussion.
5:30-6:30 p.m., Floor 5
Panel Discussion: The Samaritans: Ancient and Modern
6:30-8:00 p.m., Floor 6
September 16
Screening of “The Samaritans: A Biblical People”
Special screening with clergy and theological students and a panel discussion featuring Moshe Alafi, Steven Fine of Yeshiva University. Gallery tours with the curators will be conducted at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
This event is co-sponsored by the Washington Theological Consortium.
3:00 p.m., World Stage Theater
Price: $17.99, includes museum admission
Tickets coming soon.
September 18
Screening of “The Samaritans: A Biblical People”
This event includes a panel discussion after the film featuring Moshe Alafi and Steven Fine of Yeshiva University.
2:00 p.m., World Stage Theater
Price: $17.99, includes museum admission
Tickets coming soon.