Sects and sectarianism are popular themes in Jewish history, but the meaning of these terms is elusive, often raising more problems than solutions. This volume, drawing on the expertise of a wide range of scholars, examines several Jewish groups from Antiquity to the present day that have been traditionally identified as ?sects ? or as ?sectarian ?, including most famously the Qumran community and the Qaraites. It questions whether ?sect ? and ?sectarianism ? are appropriate or effective as historical categories for the interpretation of social and religious movements in Jewish history.