Category: Science/Religion

One of the strengths of Judaism has always been that our religious leaders of each era have been able to successfully bridge our ancient tradition with the needs and the zeitgeist of their generation. To be sure, this does not mean that they made substantial changes to the tradition, it…

Many of my beliefs have been influenced not just by intellectual arguments but in a large part also by exceptional teachers. Indeed, beliefs, by definition, cannot be verified with certainty by empirical evidence. Could it be that I have been deceived by charismatic teachers? Could the beliefs that have been…

The Jewish religious world seems to be consolidating. There is no longer a significant difference between Hasidim and non-Hasidic groups or between religious Sephardim and religious Ashkenazim. The ideologies are almost identical with only minor differences beyond custom. Whilst this is a good thing because it improves unity it also…

A number of years ago while visiting the beautiful Grand Choral Synagogue in St. Petersburg I got talking to an American tourist who told me that he was an orthodox Jew and a scientist. Then he proudly announced that he is able to compartmentalize. “What do you mean by that?”…

About four years ago I met with our local Catholic priest to discuss starting an interfaith group for our area of North London. During our conversation the concept of biblical stories came up, “Do you believe that Noah really existed and that there was a flood?” I replied affirmatively. “Then…

Rabbi Shmon ben Yechoi says in the Zohar, that the verse in our Torah portion (Genesis 7,11) which reads, “In the sixth hundred year of Noah’s life…were broken up all the fountains of the great deep” alludes to the fact that in the sixth hundred year of the sixth millennium…