October 21-22, 2011
Harvard University Hillel Community
Talk to students on “B’Resheit in the 21st Century: Old questions, but New Insights”
Talk to Harvard Community on “The Meaning of Shabbat in a Big Bang Universe.
October 29, 2011
Brandeis University
Keynote Talk to Hillel Parents & Community
“Kabbalah and Modern Cosmology: Insights from the 21st Century.”
December 16-18, 2011
Washington DC Area Weekend Scholar-in-Residence
“Cosmology and Judaism in the 21st Century: A Revolution in Relevance”
(for additional information contact the Institute for Science and Judaism — www.scienceandjudaism.org
- Saturday 9:30AM: “Joseph and the Coat of Many-Universes – Thoughts on the Parasha from Modern Cosmology. Why Science Matters for a Spiritual Life”
The story of Joseph spotlights one of the most problematic issues for both religion and science: fate, causality, and (if you believe in God) God’s role in the world. This brief talk will introduce the theme of our weekend: the compelling case that science and religion share core values and ponder similar deep questions, so that familiarity with their ideas and languages can lead to a richer spiritual and intellectual life. The common notion of a “war of worldviews” is simplistic – and mistaken.
– Saturday lunch 12:30PM: “The Meaning of Shabbat in a Big Bang Universe”
It is impossible to talk about the Creation without reference to its spiritual dimension, as exemplified by Shabbat. After a review of the most current (that is, the past 10 years) understanding of the universe and its creation, we will study texts from the Kabbalah and other Jewish mystical sources that develop similar creation scenarios and that broaden the conventional concept of Shabbat to include cosmic principles.
– Saturday evening 7:30PM: “Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion.”
This popular introductory talk, illustrated with slides and videos, will summarize the Creation of the world 13.7 billion years ago in the Big Bang, and introduce the Kabbalah, whose remarkable (even prescient) ideas about a big bang creation offer some surprising insights. Taken together, these perspectives from science and religion add depth to historical notions of humanity and its purpose. Following a Q&A session, the author will sign books.
January 29; February 3-4, 2012
Congregation Beth-El Weekend Shabbaton
Sudbury, MA
