Modern biblical thriller

MASADA SIEGEL

Matti Friedman, author of The Allepo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible, is a modern-day Indiana Jones, in both his rugged looks and his deep love of ancient history. Just like the character in the movies, he stumbles into adventures searching for an ancient relic. This curiosity takes him to exotic places, where he often ends up in hot water.

In 2008, Friedman, a correspondent for the Associated Press, became interested in the 1,000-year-old Hebrew Bible known as the Crown of Aleppo. In his initial wire story he wrote, “Crusaders held it for ransom, fire almost destroyed it and it was reputedly smuggled across Mideast borders hidden in a washing machine. But, in 1958, when it finally reached Israel, 196 pages were missing – about 40 percent of the total – and, for some Old Testament scholars, they have become a kind of holy grail.”

The Codex plays a vital role in Judaism because it provides an in-depth understanding to the meanings of biblical texts. It was also used by the 12th-century Jewish philosopher Maimonides, who declared it the most accurate copy of the Old Testament.

When Friedman found himself in Jerusalem looking at one of the most influential books in the world, strangely stored underground, it pulled at his curiosity. Intrigued, he set on a mission to learn more about the ancient text.

He explained during an interview via Skype, “I had pictured a nice story about how an important cultural relic was rescued and brought to Israel.”

The more questions he asked about the Codex, the more doors that were slammed in his face.

“It was strange, lots of people did not want to answer my questions,” said Friedman. “I was expecting people would be glad to have a journalist revive the story, but people were very hesitant. Also, when I requested access to documents, people were not forthcoming.”

The more pushback he received, the more he realized he had stumbled into a story that could shake the foundations of history, religion and politics in the Middle East. He took an extended leave at the AP, to search for the truth.

“I realized that there was a significant story that people did not want me to know,” he shared. “It took months of being persistent. I did what investigative journalists do, if doors close, then go to the window.”

As time went on, he discovered that official reports of how the Codex had come to Israel were not exactly what they appeared to be. The drama unfolded as he searched – there was even a trial concerning the Codex.

Friedman grinned, “Eventually, people started speaking to me and, eventually, I did get access to more of the documents. Quite a bit later, I got access to the trial documents.”

This real-life thriller has been compared to Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, with religion and power taking centre stage. People are reluctant to talk and, when they do, their accounts are riddled with half stories, as their handlers monitor discussions. Money talks and a swirl of tales abound as Friedman searches for answers. He follows a trail that leads him to jump on planes and dig deep in basements. He masterfully tugs at the heartstrings, intertwining heroics and mistaken steps in his quest.

While Friedman was looking for the Codex, one might say the Codex was looking for him, someone who would shake off the cobwebs and shadows and bring this ancient relic into the light and into significance once more. Friedman pulls off the cover on this mystery, leaving the reader ever more interested in learning more.

Masada Siegel is the author of Window Dressing, which can be found on amazon.com. Follow her on Twitter at @masadasiegel.

^TOP