Torah, Science and Stuff

The Science Behind the Mishnah by Rabbi Joel Padowitz and Rabbi Jonathan Sassen (Mosaica Press, 2024)  "attempts to explain the scientific topics encountered in the Mishnah to give the reader a better, deeper understanding of the Mishnah itself. At the same time... it explains more general issues to give the reader a better understanding of the larger scientific principles at work."

The authors emphasize the assertions of the Talmud, and many noted rabbis, that studying science "is often essential for a correct understanding and fulfillment of the Torah itself,'" and that "every Jew should have a basic understanding of, and familiarity with, the workings of the natural world because it enhances one's love and reverence for Hashem." 

First, physically it is a beautiful book. The clear, color photographs, are amazing and correspond well in illustrating the points brought out in the text. The figures and diagrams are also clear and clearly labeled. The combined index and glossary works adeptly to explain the scientific concepts, with easy reference to the pages on which they appear. The text itself is laid out to facilitate reading, with headings and subheadings, and text large enough so that the reader does not feel he is reading a textbook or a scientific manual.

Second, it has the approbations of noted rabbis, who not only "approve" of the content, but are excited that such a book is available. 

Mishnayos Brachos is the first tractate of Zeraim (seeds), the first order of the Mishnah [there are six orders of the Mishnah, which is the first written collection of oral traditions. It was redacted by Rabbi Yehudah Nasi at the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century CE]. This Mishnah discusses the laws of prayers, and blessings, many of which are recited over food. 

The Mishnah begins with a question about when one may recite the Shema prayer in the evening. In Chapter One, "Twilight," the authors present light and the horizon, photons from the sun, and how the rays of the sun travel through the atmosphere. Following the verses of the Mishnah, each chapter begins with the verse in the Mishnah and goes on to explain the science. Subsequent chapters discuss "Fats," color vision and how the eye works, whispering (in regard to pronouncing prayers correctly), flax and how it is prepared for use, and the movement of the earth around the sun. The 32 chapters contain scientific facts that are "cool," like how snakes kill their prey, how cheese is made, and "The Color of Fire," as well as more technical explanations of the chemical composition of sugar molecules and vinegar and acids, the process of cellular respiration, and the sound of thunder.

For those who watched The Big Bang Theory, I felt much like Penny, both reading a quote from Richard Feynman (noted Jewish-American theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1965), and reading about some of the more complicated science. You can "test" some of the information, especially things about light, color, and sound, and the fact that you cannot whisper the sound "z." What is even more astounding is that the rabbis of the Mishnah were aware of these things way before the science was documented.

It is hard to pinpoint the target audience. While people would study Mishnah would gain from it, as would people  interested in science, is there a significant intersection between the two groups who would be the "perfect" group? We could see these as the basis for a course in a Jewish school that has solid curriculum in both Mishnah and science. 

The End of an Era

This is the last round of the Jewish Book Carnival. Thanks to Heidi Rabinowitz and Marie Cloutier for starting it 14 years ago, and to the Association of Jewish Libraries for continuing the project. We have been fortunate to be able to muse about Jewish books (and other things) through these years. Thank you to all the hosts and hostesses for compiling the links. Thank you to all the authors and other interviewees. And thank you to all those who read these posts, so we didn't feel like a tree fell in the forest, but no one heard it!

As we wax nostalgic, here are our 5 personal favorites from Life Is Like a Library:

In 2011, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword won the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers. At the Association of Jewish Libraries Conference in Montreal, we met author Barry Deutsch and surprised him by showing up in costume as Mirka. We loved the whole series, and it yielded two blogs:

Being Mirka and Mussar from Mirka. 

Also in 2011, we went to a baseball game with my son. Seeing this blog reminds me of a beautiful day, and how many books there are about Jews and Baseball. 

From 2017, Knit One, Read Two is a compilation of Jewish books about knitting -- a combination of two of our favorite things to do. 

Also in 2017, we read the right books at the right time to commemorate our mother's yahrzeit (anniversary of death) on the Hebrew date 19 Tammuz.

In 2019, we interviewed Naomi Ragen. We was so honored that she graciously answered my questions. We felt like we "hit the big time" talking to a popular author.

Finally, thank you to The Real Cats of Israel for allowing us to include you in my blog. This feature started in 2013, when Cats of Ben Yehuda (Kar-Ben) was published. Many cats fans and non-Israelis love that they are so many cats wandering the streets of Israel, but most residents find these feral felines, who often travel in packs and pick through garbage dumpsters, a nuisance. The trend continued with Hard Hat Cat (Kar-Ben, 2020), And a Cat from Carmel Market (Kar-Ben 2021) and Professor Buber and His Cats (Kar-Ben, 2022). 

We at Life Is Like a Library are cat lovers, so here's yet another Real Cat:

Happy Reading!