what was the real hold up on this? Something we were worried about?
It would seem that this is something which should have been translated and made public ASAP and put on the web as soon as there was a web to put it on. What could be more important than one of the best-maintained original copies of any original books of the Bible/Torah.
I can think of many things, if not "more" important, equally so.
Ancient texts on the sciences, philosophy and law, which are squirreled away in private "State" collections come to mind: The Book of Tells, for example, or the Diaries of Christopher Columbus. The private library of the family of The Seventh Duke of Medina Sidonia, the leader of the Spanish Armada is just a further example of what comes readily to mind.
In addition, there is a wealth of ancient cartography which may never be seen by most of humanity, when they can all easily and readily be shared forever with today's technology.
"Most important" is not only profoundly subjective, but arguably so. Makes no sense to belabor the obvious.
.....what was the real hold up on this....
money?