Five-Hundred-Year-Journey
Alexander Poltorak Abstract This essay addresses the anigmatic statement of the Jewish Sages, stating that G-d created this world with the letter Heh and the
August 11, 2025 / 17 Av 5785
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Keter
Ten Systems—Ten Sefirot
… mi‑b’sari echezeh Elokah—From my flesh I behold G‑d (Job 19:26) Introduction – “In His Image” The Torah’s initial description of humanity is both profound and enigmatic:
July 22, 2025 / 26 Tammuz 5785
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The Soul – Part IV. The Whole vs. the Parts
This is the fourth installment in the series of essays on the nature of the soul. The first three installments can be found here: What
December 27, 2021 / 23 Tevet 5782
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What Is a Soul? II. Anatomy of the Soul
In the biblical story of the creation of Adam, the Torah states: Then the Eternal G‑d formed man of the dust of the ground, and
November 5, 2021 / 1 Kislev 5782
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The Cosmological Problem of Initial Conditions and the Universe of Tohu
Now the earth was unformed and void. Genesis 1:2 We have a big problem in cosmology: the problem of the initial conditions of the universe at
September 30, 2021 / 24 Tishri 5782
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Yom Kippur—The Day of Pure Delight
Yom Kippur means “The Day of Atonement.” Some view it as a frightening day full of regrets of the past and anxiety for the future.
September 15, 2021 / 9 Tishri 5782
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The Soul is in the Blood
For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:11) The word translated here as “life” in the Hebrew original is nefesh, i.e.,
May 4, 2020 / 10 Iyyar 5780
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Ki Tisa Hints at the Coronavirus
On the Eve of Shabbat, we received a government mailing containing documents that we were required to fill out and send back to the Census
March 16, 2020 / 20 Adar 5780
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Abel and Cain Conflict—Wave-Particle Duality
…And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain
February 28, 2020 / 3 Adar 5780
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Relational Space
Meditations on the Maaseh Merkavah – II This post is a sequel to my previous post, “Space – Between Future and Past.” For background information,
June 17, 2019 / 14 Sivan 5779
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Space – Between the Future and the Past
Meditations on the Maaseh Merkavah – I We do science by studying nature. We study physics in a lab, peering into space or working out
June 13, 2019 / 10 Sivan 5779
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The Entangled Tenth
And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:32)
June 2, 2019 / 28 Iyyar 5779
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The Beard of the Long Face is Found
The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe Rayatz (a.k.a. the Fridriker Rebbe) told the story about his father, the Rebbe Rashab. Once the brother of Rebbe
August 31, 2018 / 20 Elul 5778
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Breaking Symmetry
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both
March 4, 2018 / 17 Adar 5778
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The Fifth Force
Now, therefore, write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel.” (Deut. 31:19) The four known fundamental forces are: gravitational
October 11, 2016 / 9 Tishri 5777
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Tree of Life or Nothingness
In the Torah portion Shlach (Numbers 13:1-15:41), Moses instructs his spies to scout the land of Canaan and to bring back a report. He says
January 22, 2016 / 12 Shevat 5776
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The End of Days I
In this Torah portion, Vayechi, Jacob, gathers his children to reveal to them “Ketz HaYamim”–“the End of Days.” Rashi explains that Jacob’s intention was to
January 2, 2015 / 11 Tevet 5775
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I Am Who I Am: Conversation at the Burning Bush
…And behold, the thorn bush was burning with fire, but the thorn bush was not being consumed.” (Ex. 3:2) Every theologian worth his salt along
December 23, 2013 / 20 Tevet 5774
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