Chanan Tigay

Don't expect a straightforward answer from Chanan Tigay about the authenticity or even the existence of what was promoted as the earliest version of the fifth and final book of the Jewish Torah, known to Christians as the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. As an author who spent years trying to unravel a juicy mystery and get it down on paper, Tigay wants you to read his book, "The Lost Book of Moses: The Hunt for the World's Oldest Bible," to find the answer. But at a talk on Wednesday, the writer, journalist, and fellow offered listeners an enticing peek, describing how he landed on the story of the mysterious manuscript and about his years trying to track down the document. From the author's description, it was a wild, Indiana Jones-type ride that included a competition to find the relic, false starts, dead ends, trips to faraway places, and an ultimate breakthrough close to home.