Abstracts of the Poster Lecturers of the Fifth Miami International Conference on Torah & Science

The Kovens Convention Center, Florida International University, Miami

December 16-21, 2003

For information contact Ilana Attia, info@borhatorh.org

THE REAL MIRROR IMAGE ON THE TABLETS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:

THE REAL MIRROR WORLD ?

Matest Agrest, Dr Sci

Mikhail Agrest, PhD

Physics and Astronomy, College of Charleston, Charleston. SC, USA

This paper further explores developments in the search [1] for links between contemporary discoveries in physics and the creation of the Tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Tablets themselves are a link between the Divine and the natural.

The laws of conservation in physics represent various symmetric properties of empty space. Gamma rays can split into an electron and its mirror antiparticle -- a positron. Since antimatter is undoubtedly part of reality, contemporary cosmology is considering the possibility of the existence of an antimatter mirror parallel universe separate from our material universe, but having possible links [2] with it.

We suggest that perhaps the “mirror image” on the back of the Tablets hint at the symmetric properties of our universe as well as at the existence of the real mirror world.

[1]. Matest Agrest, Mikhail Agrest, “Creation of the Tablets of the Ten Commandments and Laser Technology.” The Forth Miami International Conference on Torah & Science. December 18-20, 2001. Abstracts, page 18.

[2]. N.S. Kardashov, “Hidden Mass and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.” Preprint FIAN #65, 1999. p. 9.

SCIENCE AS APPLIED KABBALAH

David Devor

Technology Development, (Retired) Dvorkovitz and Associates, Jerusalem, Israel 

The Lubavitcher Rebbe relates the "marriage" of mystical and scientific knowledge flowing into the world in this pre-messianic dawn, to inform each other. It is our responsibility to facilitate this sacred union.

As its contribution, mystical knowledge offers a pure Torah channel. But the dowry of science, for the moment, comes through a haphazard secular framework of experimentation and human logic plus ideological dross. Despite B'Or Ha’Torah type initiatives, science's impurity still allows for the recovery of only sparks. Worse, as complexity mushrooms, there is the ever-increasing danger of technological holocaust via system-level magnification of entropy ("Murphy's Law").

We suggest a methodology to help the mystical to holistically inform scientific insight at its port of entry into the world, cleanly bypassing the a/m problems. This should promote safely accelerated technological development swiftly liberating mankind from metaphysical blindness that stems from attachment to the physical crust and provide a smooth passage into the messianic age, meeting the Great Sabbath's deadline for completion of creative work. 

DOES JEWISH HISTORY SHOW G-D’S INTERVENTION IN THE WORLD?

Rabbi Dr. Barry Kinzbrunner MD

Medical Oncology, National Medical Director of Vitas Healthcare Corporation, Miami, FL, USA

Bryan Kinzbrunner

Rabbinical Student, RIETS, Yeshiva University, NY, USA

Since the time of the prophets, there has been no direct or indirect communication between G-d and man, and hence, no direct evidence of G-d’s intervention in world history. Nevertheless, to those who believe, G-d’s intervention in world affairs is clearly evident. The prototypical proof of this is found the in The Book of Esther. G-d is never mentioned here, allowing the reader to conclude, at least on a superficial level, that the events of the story and the victory of the Jews of Shushan over the evil Haman appear to be the result of fortunate happenstance. Closer examination of the narrative, however, suggests that the events fit together too well to be random, and provide the reader with at least indirect evidence that Divine intervention played a significant role in the outcome. If this is so, then one must wonder whether other post-biblical events also demonstrate G-d’s hand in history.

The following paper will attempt to determine whether and how one can see evidence of G-d’s intervention in world events through the scope of Jewish history. Two models that examine this will be presented. The first model is The Book of Esther/Kol Dodi Dofek model, the premise of which is that one looks at Jewish history as a linear progression, meaning each event, when put together, shows Divine intervention in the world. The second model, the Maharal model, claims that evidence of G-d’s intervention in world affairs is not based on specific historical events but is evident in the continued survival of the Jewish people. From a Hegelian perspective the survival of the Jewish people would be impossible because all nations rise and fall, and when they fall, they end up assimilating into the culture of the new power. 

SHIURA: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURE OF G-D

Yaacov Lefcoe, MA

Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada

Contemporary psychological theory has provided an array of conceptual tools for understanding how the human being comes to recognize other people and relate to them, by way of a delicate psychodevelopmental process beginning in early infancy and continuing throughout life. In recent years, some of these concepts have been used to try and understand processes involved in the development of an experienced relationship with G-d (Rizutto 1980; Spero 1990, 1992). Careful analysis and interpretation will show a marked kinship between elements of these latter efforts, and concepts found in the Habad hasidic literature describing psychological processes in Jewish contemplative meditation (hitbonenut). A key linking concept is that of the shiura, the internalized representation of G-d.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a unified framework for conceptualizing how people may come to “know” and “relate” to G-d, integrating the psychological and Torah approaches mentioned. The meeting of these two horizons of understanding will be shown to open up a rich and fertile ground for understanding and cultivating the G-d relationship.

Sources

A.M. Rizzuto (1980) “The Psychological Foundations of Belief in G-d” in Toward Moral and Religious Maturity:The First International Conference on Moral and Religious Development. Convened by Christiane Brusselmans, Morristown, NY: Silver Burdett Co.

M.H. Spero (1990) “Parallel Dimensions of Experience in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the Religious Patient” in Psychotherapy 27:1, pp. 53-71.

M.H. Spero (1992) Religious Objects as Psychological Structures: A Critical Integration of Object Relations Theory, Psychotherapy, and Judaism (Chicago: Chicago University Press)

IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF MEDICINE SOLID?

Tzvi(Steven) Pearlstein, MD, FAAOS, FACS

Orthopedic Surgery, Boca Raton, FL, USA

The delivery of medical care in the US has seen turbulent times, with transition from fee for service to managed care and HMOs and back toward fee for service and control by insurance companies. Fee for service failed and was replaced. Managed care/HMOs are failing. Hillary Clinton attempted to create a new system. Politicians are proposing new systems. There is no lack of talk of a socialized system ala Canada and Great Britain.

With all the hoopla about changing the system we might assume that it’s “the system” that is failing us. To analyze the system we need to break it into its component parts. There are various ways to do this. One way is to consider the foundation or basic principles which the system stands on, i.e., 1) people get sick, 2) people want to be healthy rather than sick, and 3) doctors, hospitals, and the healthcare system can heal us of our sicknesses.

But this foundation has flaws and deficiencies. Two important principles are lacking: 1) that our Creator, G-d, is the ultimate healer and we, whether patient, spouse, parent, friend, or doctor can either help or hinder the healing process between  the sick individual and G-d, and 2) the human beings with physical sickness are more than just a body part or collection of body parts and are in reality a soul housed in a body. In this new paradigm unraveling the ultimate cause of sickness and a course of appropriate treatment is a much more complex job than the current system acknowledges or allows for.

Once the foundation is correctly laid with truthful building blocks, the rest of the building blocks consisting of all the marvelous technologies and treatment modalities will fall into place. The system will then be corrected without further need to jump from system to system.

SOMETIMES SUM, TIMES SOMETIMES -- A LAYMAN'S LOOK AT A CRITICAL PRINCIPLE OF TORAH AND SCIENCE CONVERGENCE AND DEBATE

Elliot M. Pines, Ph.D.

Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics

Senior Silicon Infrastructure Engineer, Telasic Communications, Los Angeles, CA, USA

The deep connection between addition and multiplication reflects the interplay of spiritual with physical. Extensions of basic addition, multiplication, and their interrelation are explored -- creating powerful tools that are easily misused in questions of Torah and Science.

With these, design in irreducibly complex structures is re-examined. Next, two (published!) examples of misuse of the tools are investigated: a) a “square-root” parlor trick used to falsely “refute” a landmark Torah Codes study, and b) an exaggeration of a miracle of sunlight spectrum into miracle!

Finally, a fascinating speculation is proposed of spiritual metric embedded within the  micro-to-macrocosmic structure of the universe. This, based upon the mystical relationship of addition and multiplication, as applied to the description of (Third) Temple dimensions in Ezekiel [40:5, 42:16-20], in conjunction with the Heavenly dimensions offered in the Talmud, Hagigah 13a.

And not so fast! Just how “fascinating” versus. how “speculative”? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Indeed, the critical eye will be applied to these results as well.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND THE TORAH LIFESTYLE

Shoshanah Rabinowitz

Occupational Therapy, Jerusalem, Israel

An article published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapists in the late 1990’s investigated the understanding of and need for occupational therapy in: 1) publications and newspapers around 1917-1921 as understood by the lay person; and 2) the medical literature of the same time period. The response from the lay person was that the benefits of occupational therapy were so far reaching and of such importance that the profession would become as necessary and an integral part of daily life akin to nursing or brushing ones teeth.

A futurist interviewed by the American Occupational Therapy Association in 1999 stated that the number one killer for the new millennium would be the “disease of meaninglessness.” The futurist advocated occupational therapy to prevent this.

We shall explore here the philosophy of occupational therapy and its connection to the teachings of the Torah and the Torah lifestyle in order to demonstrate why and how occupational therapy, when used in its original form is indeed in keeping with the Torah and prevents disease and promotes both health and life.

NON-TRANSIENT TIME IN PHYSICS AND TORAH

Avi Schnurr, MSc

Physics, TRW Space and Electronics, Los Angeles, CA, USA

One of the most profound developments in physics has been in our understanding of space and time. Time is not a transient phenomenon, but part of a multi-dimensional reality -- the space-time continuum. When we look deeply, we find that the Torah also views time -- the principle domain of the spiritual world -- as an established, non-transient reality. Even the word for world, olam, refers to all of space and time.

As Rabbi Soloveitchik writes, understanding that the past retains its existence is fundamental to understanding repentance. Rav Dessler illustrates this with examples, showing that our sense of transience is an illusion created for our benefit, making life possible: an illusion which vanishes from the deeper perspectives of the next world.

If time is non-transient, what are the implications for our lives? Is death an illusion? Can this lead to a deeper understanding of the next world, and a more fundamental understanding of our souls? This paper will introduce approaches to these questions from the dual perspectives of physics and Torah.

DO LAWS OF NATURE PREVENT REPENTANCE?

Emanuel Segal, PhD

Physics, Rafael Armament Development Authority

Adjunct Professor of Quality Assurance and Reliability, Technion, Haifa, Israel

“They asked Wisdom, ‘As to a sinner, what is his punishment?’

She said to them, ‘Evil purchases evil’.

They asked Prophecy, ‘As to a sinner, what is his punishment?’

She said to them, ‘The soul that sins shall die.’

They asked the Holy One, Blessed Be He, ‘As to a sinner, what is his punishment?’ He said to them, ‘Let the sinner repent, and his sin will be forgiven for him.’ ” (Jerusalem Talmud, Makkot 2:5).

Wisdom and Prophecy do not allow repentance. In order to understand repentance, we have to figure out what characterizes a sin. In his Laws of Repentance Maimonides discusses the issues of free will and knowledge of the future. Rabbi N. Rabinovitch in his introduction to Hilkhot Tshuvah points out that these issues, and the paradoxes involved, are equivalent to turning back into the past. This means, that repentance is related to going back in time. From the quotation above it seems that only G-d can travel back and forth in time.

THE LINKS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL TORAH JUDAISM ROOTED IN WESTERN CULTURE AND THE THREE PHILOSOPHY/RELIGIONS OF THE FAR EAST

Dr. Arthur Sokoloff

Dentistry, Miami, FL, USA

It may appear that religious beliefs in Far Eastern culture (east of India, such as China and Japan) are too remote from Judaism to even attempt to find a mutual relationship. This was my personal feeling for many years.

However, a rabbi suggested that I read Genesis 25. To my astonishment, I learned that Abraham, nearing the end of his life, summoned the sons of his concubines, gave them gifts, and sent them to the East—to the Far East! This opened a door that captured my interest and encouraged further study and investigation. Is it conceivable that some of the wisdom of East Asia is rooted in Judaism, thereby creating a link?

The time factor indicates fifteen hundred years between Abraham (who lived 4000 years ago) and the founders of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism (who lived 2500 years ago). Is it possible that Abraham’s sons carried with them some of their father’s wisdom received from G-d?

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