Qumran Community

The Qumran Community was an ancient Jewish group that lived around the 2nd century BCE near the Dead Sea. They are best known for their strict religious practices and their role in preserving a vast collection of biblical manuscripts, known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered nearby in the 1940s. Scholars believe they may have practiced communal living, with shared possessions and a focus on purity and study of religious laws. Their writings provide valuable insights into Jewish beliefs and practices just before and during the inception of Christianity.