ABSTRACT
The fact that so much new evidence relating to the ancient synagogue has come to light and been published in recent years justifies yet another discussion of the Torah Shrine.2 No component of the ancient synagogue expresses more clearly the centrality of the Hebrew scriptures in the post-70 CE community than the Torah Shrine, which housed numerous biblical books that were used in the course of synagogue worship and study. Which books comprised the core stored in the Torah Shrine, and which were available to the community and not stored in the Torah Shrine, are issues most pertinent to a reconsideration of the Torah Shrine.
