Robert Eisenman

Robert Eisenman, born in August nineteen thirty-seven, is a distinguished American biblical scholar, historian, archaeologist, and poet. He currently serves as a professor of Middle East religions, archaeology, and Islamic law at California State University Long Beach, where he also directs the Institute for the Study of Judaeo-Christian Origins.

In the 1980s and 90s, Eisenman became a prominent figure in the campaign to democratize access to the Dead Sea Scrolls. His efforts have led to his association with a groundbreaking theory that intertwines the Essenes with Palestinian messianism, a perspective that challenges the prevailing views in scholarly circles.

Before establishing his academic career, Eisenman embarked on a five-year journey across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, extending as far as India. This transformative experience is encapsulated in his poetic travel diary, published in two thousand seven by North Atlantic Books, titled The New Jerusalem. In this work, he vividly recounts his experiences in the San Francisco