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!

An Unorthodox Interview with Naomi Ragen

I have been a fan of Naomi Ragen for many years. With the publication of her eleventh novel, An Unorthodox Match (St. Martin's Press, 2019), I finally worked up the nerve to contact her and ask her the questions I've been thinking about as I read her other ten novels. 

Her latest book is about Leah, formerly known as Lola, who has embraced Orthodox Judaism and moved to the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Her mother, who had abandoned the strictures of religion as a young woman, is very critical of Leah's choice. And the neighborhood only accepts Leah up to a point - definitely not to marry one of their own. The book explores both the good and the bad about living in an insular community, and (SMALL SPOILER), the book ends happily, but not without the foreshadowing of future challenges for Leah.

Since Naomi is currently touring in the United States, we exchanged questions and answers via email:


As they say on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, many of your works are "ripped from the headlines." Jephte's Daughter (Warner Books, 1998), Sotah (St. Martin's Press, 1992), The Sacrifice of Tamar (Crown Books, 1994), The Tenth Song (St. Martin's Press, 2010), and The Devil in Jerusalem (St. Martin's Press, 2015) are all based on real-life stories. I know you asked people for their real-life experiences when you wrote An Unorthodox Match. Is the book based on someone's specific experience, or a conglomerate of the responses you received? Are any of your own experiences included in the book?

I myself came from a non-observant family, but was sent to a Hebrew Day School when I entered second grade. So the idea of a Ba'alat Teshuva is one with which I have a great deal of experience. But because my experiences happened to me when I was a child and my character is an adult when she becomes observant, I wanted to talk to others who became observant as adults. Leah is a conglomerate of all I know and all I've learned from others.

I loved Leah's mother Cheryl as the "very interesting" "devil's advocate." Is she based on a real character? Do you feel her message came through despite or because of her quirky personality and life choices?

I wanted Cheryl to serve the function of a Greek chorus. She is the one who says what many readers are thinking when they hear Leah's story. She is also a conglomerate of many secular parents whose children become observant about whom I've read and I have met. The details of her life are totally imagined.

There is a strong sense of place in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Did you live there or travel there to do the research?

I attended the Sarah Schenirer Teachers' Seminary in Borough Park when I was eighteen and lived there for close to a year. I also visit Manhattan almost every year, so I know it well.

An Unorthodox Match is being touted as your first book about those who choose to become more religious. It seems like Leah/Lola gets pretty much the same treatment other characters in your novels have gotten when they don't conform to the norms of the community. Did you find a difference between the newly religious versus non-conformists within the community as far as how they are treated? It seemed like people were somewhat accepting of the match between Leah and Yaacov because he was a widower who had cut back on his learning to get a real job, sort of moving from the "A list" to the "C list." Thoughts?

I don't agree that they accepted the match, because the way ba'ale teshuva are treated is pretty harsh and unfair. But what motivates me are stories of injustice, so you are right that there is a common thread in all my books about Haredim -- the idea that the world which should be striving for good is undermined by very human faults that need to be acknowledged and accepted.

Critics are rather harsh in saying you have "a bone to pick" with the Orthodox Jewish community and "air dirty laundry" by publishing with a secular imprint. From my perspective, I think you point out the incongruity between what the Torah dictates and how people behave. Two questions: How do you respond to these critics, and why is this social criticism in all your novels?

My novels are a mirror -- an honest and loving reflection of the religious world as I experience it. If they don't like what they see, don't complain to the mirror, change the face.

[In answering this question, Naomi reminded me of Rose in The Sisters Weiss. Known, and criticized for her photographs of the Haredi community, "her defense had been simple. 'I'm a mirror,' she'd said in response. 'If you don't like your face, change it, Don't complain to the mirror. I show what's there. You created your world, I just document.'"]

And continuing from above, orthodox imprints used to only publish stories about "perfect" families. They have evolved somewhat, and they are now publishing books about people with "issues." What do you think of this, and would you consider publishing with an orthodox imprint?

I think my books pioneered a way forward when Feldheim and Targum were writing fairy tales about all the perfect tzaddikim in their perfect world. Frum Jews were not used to reading the truth, and now they are, so the religious publishers are catching up with their readership. That's great, but I am happy where I am. When I started writing, no religious publisher would touch my books. Everything was strictly censored, and it still is.

I read Devil in Jerusalem (about a charismatic cult leader who convinces a woman to abuse her children - again based on a true story), and while it was a riveting read, it was so sad, I kind of wish I hadn't read it. When the real story appeared in the news, people were horrified. What compelled you to write this story?

I felt it was a very vital and important story. There are so many predators around the watering holes of religious piety and hundreds of religious cults in Israel. Religious people are often naive, and backdoor idol worship, with amulets, holy men, etc., is very common today. The book is hard to read, and it was very hard to write, but necessary.

On your website, I noticed comments from people who don't like your politics, so they are not going to buy your book. Is "cancel culture" a new phenomenon for you? (Of course, there were people who like your politics and are buying two books!)

We live in an age of intolerance and ignorance. I'm not going to be intimidated.

I loved The Saturday Wife (St. Martin's Press, 2008), which is based on Madame Bovary. Can your fans look forward to any more contemporary books based on classics? 

Who knows what the future will bring? My books choose me, not the other way around. 

What is your next project?

A sequel to An Unorthodox Match.

Thanks to Naomi Ragen for answering my questions so thoughtfully. Instead of the Real Cats of Israel, we have The Real Naomi Ragen:

Happy Reading!