All pictures and the article HERE !
Showing posts with label Astronomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Astronomy. Show all posts
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Origin of Light
B"H
Last Shabbat, the new annual Torah cycle has started with SEFER BERESHIT. This Shabbat we already read Parashat NOACH.
For the past few days, I have been busying myself by going through commentaries, the Torah as well as the Talmud and Midrash. I simply love Bereshit and Noach and all what creation and life is about, we find in Parashat Bereshit. Of course, we will never find satisfying answers on what the GAN and EDEN, the Trees and Neshamot of Adam and Eve (Chava) were all about but it is a fascinating subject.
There are plenty of opinions and commentaries and, unfortunately, many Jews study all the Parashot but maybe not into such depths as Bereshit should be studied.
Last Shabbat, the new annual Torah cycle has started with SEFER BERESHIT. This Shabbat we already read Parashat NOACH.
For the past few days, I have been busying myself by going through commentaries, the Torah as well as the Talmud and Midrash. I simply love Bereshit and Noach and all what creation and life is about, we find in Parashat Bereshit. Of course, we will never find satisfying answers on what the GAN and EDEN, the Trees and Neshamot of Adam and Eve (Chava) were all about but it is a fascinating subject.
There are plenty of opinions and commentaries and, unfortunately, many Jews study all the Parashot but maybe not into such depths as Bereshit should be studied.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Could Planet Mars be our new home ?
B"H
The famous physician Stephen Hawking once said that mankind has detroyed planet Earth and must now search for another planet to settle. As our climate, nature and resources go down the drain, mankind should move into space as soon as possible. A new potential home for us could be planet Mars.
According to the Torah, G - d gave us planet Earth because this planet would be good for us. As a matter of fact, our planet provides us with everything we need: Oxygen, climate, nature, gravity, resources and a protective shield. Without this protective shield we would be vulnerable to meteorites and magnetic fields. Just look at the Moon where meteorites hit the surface on a regular basis (causing tons of craters).
Although Mars may a bit similar to Earth, our live would be extremely different from the one on Earth. Not only because of the drop in temperature.
If G - d had intended that mankind should live on different planets, He surely would have taken care of everything we need in order to survive. However, He didn't and the Torah is only referring to planet Earth.
I am not at all against Astronomy. Just the opposite and I love dealing with the subject. Reading everything about science and astronomy is one of my favourite hobbies and whenever I find the time, I surf around on different sites and watch all kinds of space videos. In Judaism, science and Torah are going hand in hand and I wish that more Yeshivot started teaching science. The Rambam and the Ramban knew science and already Avraham dealt wth the stars. Let alone the Talmud Tractate Rosh Hashana where you find all kinds of astronomical explanations. Now NASA has started its CURIOSITY project exploring Mars in detail. Although I love reading everything about it and looking at photos, I would never pack up my stuff and move to Mars.:-)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
ALIENS in Judaism
B"H
The movie ALIENS 2 with Sigourney Weaver is one of my favourite movies. How about aliens who are more similar to mankind than those monsters surrounding the actress Sigourney Weaver in her ALIEN movies ? The little green men, for instance. Did G - d maybe create more worlds with humans ? If so, then how about us ? Maybe it isn't only us receiving a Torah ? Are their more Jews out in space ?
The Talmud teaches us about 18,000 further worlds / planets as well as about the planet MEROZ. SEFER HABRIT by Rabbi Pinchas Eliyahu Horowitz (18 century) teaches that MEROZ is an inhabited planet in outer space.
After many years of studying Judaism, I have purchased quite a few books. You may call it a small library. Among my books you can find "SEFER HABRIT" and besides planet Meroz, it teaches a lot about planets like the Moon, the Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Mercury. There is a lot to write on the subject but have you ever thought about G - d creating other nations on different planets ? What about those people on Meroz, if they really exist ? Rabbi Horowitz states that those people do not have any free will, as we do.
In my Yeshiva days, one of the students asked the question about aliens created by G - d. Our teacher said that if there are any aliens, they did not get the Torah but only the Jews. I believe that and I am not too keen on meeting any alien.
Link:
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Only 4 % of the Universe are known to us
B”H
Can you imagine that no one has an explanation for 96 % of the universe ? Only 4 % of the universe consist of galaxies, planets and stars. The other 96 % consist of “Dark Energy” and “Dark Matter”. We are neither able to feel nor to comprehend those two “existences”, "causes", “substances” or whatever you would like to call them.
Link:
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Astronomy Lectures at Tel Aviv University
B"H
I am a crazy fan of astronomy and every scientific topic around and thus have started going to evening lectures at the Tel Aviv University. Its worth checking out their classes and programmes.
A great class will be given next week on Wednesday, 1 June. Here are the details:
Some lectures are given in English but usually all space topics are being discussed in Hebrew !!!
If you want to get great and professional insights into astronomy and meet other people who share the same passion, then give it a try and come.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
About Creation
B"H
The Talmud Tractate Rosh Hashana 11a teaches us that Adam and Eve (Chava) were created at the age of twenty.
The figure "20" is not necessarily to be taken literally, as the Talmud often gives us figures but actually does it in order to describe something. Twenty could also symbolically mean that the two were created as adults and not as children or teenagers.
There is no time whatsoever for G – d. He always existed and will do so eternally. Time was only created by Him when the world and humans came into existence. After Noach's Flood, the human DNA was changed again. Done as a punishment and from then on, humans had a much shorter life expectancy.
_____________________
Our Sages explain that ONE day for G – d consists of 1000 human years.
A g – dly year consists of 365.25 g – dly days.
When a g – dly day consists of 1000 human years, then 365.250 human years make up one g – dly year.
The Talmud Tractate Rosh Hashana 11a teaches us that Adam and Eve (Chava) were created at the age of twenty.
The figure "20" is not necessarily to be taken literally, as the Talmud often gives us figures but actually does it in order to describe something. Twenty could also symbolically mean that the two were created as adults and not as children or teenagers.
There is no time whatsoever for G – d. He always existed and will do so eternally. Time was only created by Him when the world and humans came into existence. After Noach's Flood, the human DNA was changed again. Done as a punishment and from then on, humans had a much shorter life expectancy.
_____________________
Our Sages explain that ONE day for G – d consists of 1000 human years.
A g – dly year consists of 365.25 g – dly days.
When a g – dly day consists of 1000 human years, then 365.250 human years make up one g – dly year.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Events according to the Stars
B"H
It is quite common in our times, to interpret certain events according to horoscopes or further different locations of stars etc. Which planet is influencing what and how ?
This is nothing new in history and even Judaism has a lot to say about this subject. There are actually many books dealing with the stars and how they influence G – d's creation (see for instance "Sefer HaBrit" or "Raziel HaMal'ach").
Already Adam HaRishon, Noach or Avraham new the influences of specific stars and their effects.
But doesn't the Talmud let us know that Jews don't depend on horoscopes, stars or anything else but entirely on G - d ?
Just look at Avraham himself. After his name was changed, he had a different Mazal. Jews only depend on G – d even if their horoscope says something completely else. Through Teshuva (repentance) and different ways of behaviour, we are always able to change our Mazal to the better. G – d changed Sarah's and Avraham's Mazal and suddenly they were able to have a child.
Yesterday I discovered a relatively new book ("Sefer Chochmat Israel") on the subject. The author, Rabbi Israel of Rilus, analyzes different worldly events according to the Mazalot. On page 83, we read for instance, that during the "Night of the Broken Glass – Cristal Night), the planet Neptune reached the Mazal Virgin. And Neptune in Virgin usually means something bad is going to happen.
For astrology experts:
Neptune reached Virgin 22ยบ 40'.
It is quite common in our times, to interpret certain events according to horoscopes or further different locations of stars etc. Which planet is influencing what and how ?
This is nothing new in history and even Judaism has a lot to say about this subject. There are actually many books dealing with the stars and how they influence G – d's creation (see for instance "Sefer HaBrit" or "Raziel HaMal'ach").
Already Adam HaRishon, Noach or Avraham new the influences of specific stars and their effects.
But doesn't the Talmud let us know that Jews don't depend on horoscopes, stars or anything else but entirely on G - d ?
Just look at Avraham himself. After his name was changed, he had a different Mazal. Jews only depend on G – d even if their horoscope says something completely else. Through Teshuva (repentance) and different ways of behaviour, we are always able to change our Mazal to the better. G – d changed Sarah's and Avraham's Mazal and suddenly they were able to have a child.
Yesterday I discovered a relatively new book ("Sefer Chochmat Israel") on the subject. The author, Rabbi Israel of Rilus, analyzes different worldly events according to the Mazalot. On page 83, we read for instance, that during the "Night of the Broken Glass – Cristal Night), the planet Neptune reached the Mazal Virgin. And Neptune in Virgin usually means something bad is going to happen.
For astrology experts:
Neptune reached Virgin 22ยบ 40'.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Back to the Source - The Age of the Universe, Part 1
B"H
Who doesn't want answers to all his questions ? If possible, G – d Himself should give us the answers, as it is Him knowing everything. And He doesn't err.
One of the greatest mysterious is the universe and its creation; even if Astronomers and Physicians might claim the opposite. What exactly is this mystery ? Didn't especially NASA determine that our universe is 14 billion years old ? In general, science determines the age of the universe of 15 billion years.
15 billion years ? Isn't this figure contradicting the Torah where it says that the entire creation process took place in six days ? And doesn't tell us the Jewish calendar that only after Adam's creation, time started running. This means the six days of the creation process plus 5768 years after Adam was created. How can that be ?
The scientific age of the universe can be proven, thanks to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Thus, scientists found out that our universe has been constantly growing and if one measures the temperature back to its source, he is able to define the age.
After the BIG BANG, endless amounts of heat were released. After millions of years, this heat cooled down and only then, life on earth was possible. Scientists usually claim that the Torah errs when it talks about six days of creation and the amount of additional 5768 years. By the way, I am not planning to explain the opinion of the anti – Zionist umbrella organization Edah HaCharedit on this matter. It is well – known that the Edah takes these six days literally.
On the contrary, I want to quote commentaries of the Rambam (Maimonides), the Ramban (Nachmanides), the religious physician Gerald Schroeder (who is teaching at AISH HaTorah) or Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, who, unfortunately, already passed away. Furthermore, I want to mention teachings from the Talmud and the Torah itself. Everyone interested in the scientific basis of the Torah should read Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's book "Immortality, Resurrection and the Age of the Universe".
Until the sixties and seventies, religious Jews claiming that there could be alien existence on other planets were called heretics. But already Saadia Gaon (approx. 890 – 942) stated that alien life wouldn't contradict our Torah.
Basically there are two general opinions on how the age of the universe could be explained:
1. Every day of creation stands for millions or billions of years. Day one was not a day with 24 hours because time was only added later on. At least, according to our understanding of time. The Torah only mentions human age when Seth (Adam's third son), was born. Before, it didn't tell us the age of Cain and Hevel (Abel).
2. Another opinion claims that the whole universe was created with its history. G – d created the trees with rings indicating the age of the trees. The only problem of this claim is that it doubts the Torah. Why should G – d give us false information ?
The kabbalistic book "Sefer HaTemunah" is quite famous among those who take the Kabbalah study seriously. The great Kabbalsists from the 16th century, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, disapproved of the book and announced that its context is anything but realistic. However, until then, Sefer HaTemunah was greatly honoured and studied. Even after the criticism of the two famous Kabbalists, Sefer HaTemunah was still studied for a while but later on became forgotten.
But what is so special about "Sefer HaTemunah" ?
The author obviously seems to be the Talmudic Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKanah. Basically the book describes the Shemittah cycles, as mentioned in the Torah. Every seventh year, the land shall rest. Sefer HaTemunah takes the Talmud Sanhedrin as its source and states that our planet is going to exist for 6000 years and after 7000 years, it will be destroyed. The Talmud, on the other hand, gives as its source the six days of creation. G – d created the world in six days and He rested on the seventh day. Thus, according to Sefer HaTemunah, our planet exists 49,000 years (7 x 7000 = 49,000). The only problem is that we don't know in what year we are at the moment.
Furthermore, Sefer HaTemunah raises the theory that there were former worlds already before the creation of Adam. The Midrash Rabbah says: "And it was evening, and it was morning, one day". Hence evening was there before morning. But isn't it usually the other way around ? However, Sefer HaTemunah is not alone with its claim that before Adam, G – d created other universes and destroyed them all (see "Midrash Rabbah" or "Sefer Maarechet Elokut"). Even the Talmudic Rishonim knew about this thesis and it is mentioned in "Sefer HaChinuch" and the Ramban's and Ibn Ezra's commentary on "The Kuzari".
Whoever deals with the subject and has a close look into Torah commentaries or the Talmud (e.g.: Chagigah 11 – 15) knows that there are many opions on the creation. Opinions which, unfortunately, seem to be forgotten or excluded in our times. Today, many rabbis don't know anything about science anymore; biology, physics, astronomy or history. Many things banned today were very much accepted during Talmudic times until the Maharal of Prague. The greatest rabbis didn't consider those opinions as problematic and Avraham would definitely not see any difficulties.
Gerald Schroeder as well as Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan published very interesting statements on the age of the universe and the unusual longevity until the Generation of Noach. Moreover, Rabbi Kaplan also quotes different sources dealing with the resurrection in the times of Meshiach and many other topics. But those issues I am going to explain in Part 2.
Who doesn't want answers to all his questions ? If possible, G – d Himself should give us the answers, as it is Him knowing everything. And He doesn't err.
One of the greatest mysterious is the universe and its creation; even if Astronomers and Physicians might claim the opposite. What exactly is this mystery ? Didn't especially NASA determine that our universe is 14 billion years old ? In general, science determines the age of the universe of 15 billion years.
15 billion years ? Isn't this figure contradicting the Torah where it says that the entire creation process took place in six days ? And doesn't tell us the Jewish calendar that only after Adam's creation, time started running. This means the six days of the creation process plus 5768 years after Adam was created. How can that be ?
The scientific age of the universe can be proven, thanks to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Thus, scientists found out that our universe has been constantly growing and if one measures the temperature back to its source, he is able to define the age.
After the BIG BANG, endless amounts of heat were released. After millions of years, this heat cooled down and only then, life on earth was possible. Scientists usually claim that the Torah errs when it talks about six days of creation and the amount of additional 5768 years. By the way, I am not planning to explain the opinion of the anti – Zionist umbrella organization Edah HaCharedit on this matter. It is well – known that the Edah takes these six days literally.
On the contrary, I want to quote commentaries of the Rambam (Maimonides), the Ramban (Nachmanides), the religious physician Gerald Schroeder (who is teaching at AISH HaTorah) or Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, who, unfortunately, already passed away. Furthermore, I want to mention teachings from the Talmud and the Torah itself. Everyone interested in the scientific basis of the Torah should read Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's book "Immortality, Resurrection and the Age of the Universe".
Until the sixties and seventies, religious Jews claiming that there could be alien existence on other planets were called heretics. But already Saadia Gaon (approx. 890 – 942) stated that alien life wouldn't contradict our Torah.
Basically there are two general opinions on how the age of the universe could be explained:
1. Every day of creation stands for millions or billions of years. Day one was not a day with 24 hours because time was only added later on. At least, according to our understanding of time. The Torah only mentions human age when Seth (Adam's third son), was born. Before, it didn't tell us the age of Cain and Hevel (Abel).
2. Another opinion claims that the whole universe was created with its history. G – d created the trees with rings indicating the age of the trees. The only problem of this claim is that it doubts the Torah. Why should G – d give us false information ?
The kabbalistic book "Sefer HaTemunah" is quite famous among those who take the Kabbalah study seriously. The great Kabbalsists from the 16th century, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, disapproved of the book and announced that its context is anything but realistic. However, until then, Sefer HaTemunah was greatly honoured and studied. Even after the criticism of the two famous Kabbalists, Sefer HaTemunah was still studied for a while but later on became forgotten.
But what is so special about "Sefer HaTemunah" ?
The author obviously seems to be the Talmudic Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKanah. Basically the book describes the Shemittah cycles, as mentioned in the Torah. Every seventh year, the land shall rest. Sefer HaTemunah takes the Talmud Sanhedrin as its source and states that our planet is going to exist for 6000 years and after 7000 years, it will be destroyed. The Talmud, on the other hand, gives as its source the six days of creation. G – d created the world in six days and He rested on the seventh day. Thus, according to Sefer HaTemunah, our planet exists 49,000 years (7 x 7000 = 49,000). The only problem is that we don't know in what year we are at the moment.
Furthermore, Sefer HaTemunah raises the theory that there were former worlds already before the creation of Adam. The Midrash Rabbah says: "And it was evening, and it was morning, one day". Hence evening was there before morning. But isn't it usually the other way around ? However, Sefer HaTemunah is not alone with its claim that before Adam, G – d created other universes and destroyed them all (see "Midrash Rabbah" or "Sefer Maarechet Elokut"). Even the Talmudic Rishonim knew about this thesis and it is mentioned in "Sefer HaChinuch" and the Ramban's and Ibn Ezra's commentary on "The Kuzari".
Whoever deals with the subject and has a close look into Torah commentaries or the Talmud (e.g.: Chagigah 11 – 15) knows that there are many opions on the creation. Opinions which, unfortunately, seem to be forgotten or excluded in our times. Today, many rabbis don't know anything about science anymore; biology, physics, astronomy or history. Many things banned today were very much accepted during Talmudic times until the Maharal of Prague. The greatest rabbis didn't consider those opinions as problematic and Avraham would definitely not see any difficulties.
Gerald Schroeder as well as Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan published very interesting statements on the age of the universe and the unusual longevity until the Generation of Noach. Moreover, Rabbi Kaplan also quotes different sources dealing with the resurrection in the times of Meshiach and many other topics. But those issues I am going to explain in Part 2.
The Earth and its End
B"H
As an astronomy fan, I have been following a certain announcement for quite some time:
Can it, from a Jewish point of view, be true that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is going to collide with its neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy ?
The good news is at least that, if this kind of merger is going to take place, it will only be in another 5 billion years.
See more here:
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6863
As an astronomy fan, I have been following a certain announcement for quite some time:
Can it, from a Jewish point of view, be true that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is going to collide with its neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy ?
The good news is at least that, if this kind of merger is going to take place, it will only be in another 5 billion years.
See more here:
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6863
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