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Sukkot and the Standard Model

And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook. Leviticus 23:40 During the Holiday of Sukkot (“Tabernacles”), the Jewish people are commanded to take together four species (arba’a minim): etrog (fruit of a citron tree), lulav (a branch of a date palm), ḥadassim (boughs from the myrtle tree), and aravot (branches of the willow tree),[1] and hold them together while waving with them in all six directions (na’anuim). As I wrote in my essay “Unified Field Theory… Theory and Practice,”[2] the four species, arba’a minim, also correspond to the four letters of the Tetragrammaton. According to the Arizal, this relationship is as follows: Letter of the TetragrammatonArba’a MinimYudḤadassimHehAravotWawLulavHehEtrogTable 1. Letters of Tetragrammaton and Arba’a Minim As I wrote in my earlier essays,[3] all four fundamental forces correspond to the four [...]

By |2023-10-06T01:43:38-04:00October 6th, 2023|Kabbalah, Physics, Quantum Theory, Science, Standard Model, Sukkot, Sukkot, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Principle of Least Action — IV Lagrangian Mechanics

I agree, all its elegance notwithstanding, the principle of least action does not prove the existence of an intelligent Creator. In a sense, when it comes to inanimate matter, the hand of G‑d is concealed, preserving our freedom of choice—to believe or not to believe. However, when it comes to live matter, which, unlike passive inanimate matter, is actively pursuing the goals of survival and procreation, (locally) violating the second law of thermodynamics, there is no more choice. Acknowledging an intelligent Creator, who imbues live matter with goals it must labor to pursue, is no longer a matter of metaphysical commitments, it is a matter of intellectual honesty.

By |2023-10-02T18:56:27-04:00October 2nd, 2023|Physics, Principle of Least Action, Science, Teleology, Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Principle of Least Action III — History

The spectacle of the universe becomes so much the grander, so much more beautiful, the worthier of its Author, when one knows that a small number of laws, most wisely established, suffice for all movements. Pierre Louis Maupertuis (1744) Among the more or less general laws, the discovery of which characterize the development of physical science during the last century, the principle of Least Action is at present certainly one which, by its form and comprehensiveness, may be said to have approached most closely to the ideal aim of theoretical inquiry. Its significance, properly understood, extends, not only to mechanical processes, but also to thermal and electrodynamic problems. In all the branches of science to which it applies, it gives, not only an explanation of certain characteristics of phenomena at present encountered, but [...]

By |2023-09-14T22:38:28-04:00September 10th, 2023|G‑d, Kabbalah, Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics, Principle of Least Action, Science, Sefirot, Teleology, Time, Tzimtzum, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Principle of Least Action II — Introduction

The spectacle of the universe becomes so much the grander, so much more beautiful, the worthier of its Author, when one knows that a small number of laws, most wisely established, suffice for all movements. Pierre Louis Maupertuis (1744) Among the more or less general laws, the discovery of which characterize the development of physical science during the last century, the principle of Least Action is at present certainly one which, by its form and comprehensiveness, may be said to have approached most closely to the ideal aim of theoretical inquiry. Its significance, properly understood, extends, not only to mechanical processes, but also to thermal and electrodynamic problems. In all the branches of science to which it applies, it gives, not only an explanation of certain characteristics of phenomena at present encountered, but [...]

By |2023-10-02T20:40:56-04:00September 5th, 2023|Philosophy, Physics, Principle of Least Action, Science, Teleology, Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Time as a Combination of Past and Future

Philosophers struggled with the notion of time from the dawn of human civilization. Physicists of today declared the problem of time the number one problem in theoretical physics. Jewish mysticism has much to say about time.[1] Rabbi Ḥayyim Vital, in the name of the Arizal, quotes a verse: בִּטְחוּ בַיהוָה עֲדֵי-עַד, כִּי בְּיָה יְהוָה צוּר עוֹלָמִים Isaiah 26:4 The standard English translation of this verse, by JPS is: Trust ye in the LORD for ever, for the LORD is GOD, an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26:4 This is not a very good translation because it doesn't tell you what specific names of G-d are used in the pasuk. Let us spell out the names in this pasuk to see what is going on: Trust ye in Havyah (Y-H-W-H) for ever, for Kah (Y-H) is [...]

By |2023-07-31T17:43:04-04:00July 30th, 2023|Isaiah, Time, Uncategorized, Vaetchanan|1 Comment
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Metaphysics of Time in the Eyes of Philosophy and Kabbalah

A-Series and B-Series as Zman and Seder HaZmanim McTaggart’s series A and series B are two conceptual frameworks proposed by the philosopher J.M.E. McTaggart[1] to analyze the nature of time and its relationship to temporal properties such as past, present, and future. J. M. E. McTaggart, by Walter Stoneman, 1917 In McTaggart’s series A, also known as the “A-series” or the “temporal series,” time is understood in terms of the temporal properties of past, present, and future. The A-series categorizes events based on their temporal relations, such as past, present, and future, which are considered essential aspects of events. The A-series views time as a succession of moments where events move from the future, through the present, and into the past. It emphasizes the dynamic and changing nature of time, with events shifting their [...]

By |2023-07-24T10:13:23-04:00July 21st, 2023|Time, Uncategorized|1 Comment
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Tetragrammaton and the Standard Model

In the first installment of the Standard Model,[1] we uncovered a curious parallel between the arrangement of the elementary particles in the Standard Model (a.k.a. quantum field theory) and Seder Hishtalshelut—the chainlike ontological order of creation—a central doctrine of the Lurianic Kabbalah.[2] In this third installment, we will discover how the proper name of G‑d, the Tetragrammaton, is hard-wired in the standard model. In the Standard Model, all elementary particles are arranged in a four-by-four grid (with the addition of the Higgs Boson in some representations).[3] It is axiomatic in the Kabbalah that all things that are four are rooted in the four letters of the Tetragrammaton: yud (Y), heh (H), waw (W), and heh (H). In the first installment of the Standard Model, we showed that all elementary particles of the Standard [...]

By |2023-07-17T00:30:23-04:00July 17th, 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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The Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz as a Manifestation of Breaking of the Vessels of Tohu

Today, on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, Jewish people fast to commemorate several tragic events in Jewish history.[1] These tragic events include the breaking of the Tablets (Luchot) and the breach of the walls of Jerusalem twice—during the First and the Second Temple.[2] It seems that the confluence of these destructive events is not coincidental—all three are manifestations of the spiritual process called in Lurianic Kabbalah, Shevirat HaKelim (the “Breaking of the Vessels”).[3] Many readers may be surprised by the juxtaposition of historical events that happened in this physical world with primordial events that took place in another universe—Olam HaTohu (the “universe of Chaos”)[4] that preceded the creation of our universe—Olam HaTikkun (the “universe of Rectification”)[5] Indeed, how can something that happened before the creation of our universe can affect historical events in this [...]

By |2023-07-06T23:59:12-04:00July 6th, 2023|17th of Tamuz, Creation, Holidays (Yomim Tovim), Mashiach (Messiah), Time, Tisha B'Av, Uncategorized, Zechariah|0 Comments
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Quantum Torah WhatsApp Discussion Group

‎Open this link to join my WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HzeLLjGb05THGWBuQzgj87.This Group is dedicated to the discussion of posts on this blog, issues related to the Faith-Science interface, and all questions related to Torah and science. (Although the primary focus is on Torah and physics, discussions of all natural sciences, philosophy, and mathematics are welcome.) On this blog, I speak to you, my esteemed readers. In the new WhatsApp chat, you can speak to me and to each other. All questions are welcome. Please join, and feel free to invite others with similar interests to join. Spread the word! Here is the link to join my WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HzeLLjGb05THGWBuQzgj87 See you there!Alex Poltorak

By |2023-07-04T21:55:16-04:00July 4th, 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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