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Purim—the Day when We Celebrate Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

Purim—the Day when We Celebrate Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

This is what Haman did not understand. Even at the highest level, where there is a complete symmetry between Jacob and Esau, G‑d chooses Jacob—a spiritual example of the spontaneous symmetry breaking: "I loved you, said the Lord, and you said, “How have You loved us?” Was not Esau a brother to Jacob? says the Lord. And I loved Jacob. And I hated Esau…" (Malachi I, 2-3). Haman failed the test on quantum field theory and ended up hanging on a gallows.

By Alexander Poltorak|2024-03-20T23:07:19-04:00March 2nd, 2018|Holidays (Yomim Tovim), Physics, Purim, Quantum Field Theory, Quantum Theory, Randomness, Symmetry, Uncategorized, Yom Kippur|0 Comments

Purim: Celebrating Randomness

Ultimately, I suppose Einstein was right—G‑d does not play dice. So when Haman reached that spiritual level through casting the lots, he discovered the true will of G‑d, who chose the Jewish People. Jews are called “ the chosen people” not because we are better or smarter than others but because it was a simple choice of G‑d. Call this choice “capricious,” call it “irrational,” but ultimately, as Niels Bohr quipped, “Quit telling G‑d what to do!” This is the ultimate lesson of the story of Purim.

By Alexander Poltorak|2024-03-20T22:40:32-04:00March 12th, 2017|G‑d, Holidays (Yomim Tovim), Kabbalah, Names of G‑d, Purim, Quantum Theory, Randomness, Science, Uncategorized|0 Comments

From Purim to Passover

The Shulchan Aruch – the Code of Jewish Law – states that 30 days before Pesach (Passover) one needs to start learning the laws of Pesach. The simple meaning of this directive is clear – the laws are many and complicated and there is a lot to learn – so one needs to start early. There may be a deeper meaning in this, however. Let us recall that Pesach and Purim are exactly 30 days apart. To start learning about Pesach 30 days before, means to start learning about Pesach on Purim. Or, perhaps, the message is that from Purim we can learn about Pesach. The word Purim means “lot.” The story of Purim is about throwing lots. Evil Haman threw one lot to choose a month for the pogrom against Jews of [...]

By Alexander Poltorak|2017-04-10T15:36:48-04:00April 19th, 2014|Freedom, Passover (Pesach), Purim, Randomness, Uncategorized, Yom Kippur|0 Comments

Purim—the Day when We Celebrate Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

Purim: Celebrating Randomness

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