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
1 Comment
Time
Urim and Thummim as a Metaphor for Science
By Alexander Poltorak Introduction In the first installment of this essay, “Collapsing the Wave Function of Urim and Thummim,”[1] we discussed the inherent duality of
May 11, 2025 / 13 Iyyar 5785
No Comments
Shemini,Phase Space,Hamiltonian Mechanics: Kabbalah and Physics of Seven and Eight
By Alexander Poltorak Abstract The Torah portion of Shemini records the climactic eighth day of the Tabernacle’s dedication, the moment when divine fire finally descends.
April 28, 2025 / 30 Nisan 5785
No Comments
Eternity Between the Cherubs
By Alexander Poltorak And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the cover, from between the two cherubim
March 2, 2025 / 2 Adar 5785
2 Comments
Bereshit: The Binary Universe I
Abstract This essay explores the profound significance of the letter Bet (ב), the first letter of the Torah, and its numerical value of two as
November 8, 2024 / 7 Heshvan 5785
1 Comment
Rosh HaShanah: The Beginning of Change II
Abstract This essay explores the profound connections between language, philosophy, physics, and spirituality in the context of Rosh HaShanah. By examining the linguistic roots of
October 15, 2024 / 13 Tishri 5785
No Comments
Rosh HaShanah—the Beginning of Change I
It’s All in the Name Rosh HaShanah is usually translated as the New Year. When translated literally, it means the “Head of the Year.” In
October 2, 2024 / 29 Elul 5784
1 Comment
The Mystery of the Eighth Day
And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Leviticus 12:3 In the Torah portion of Tazria, we are commanded to
April 14, 2024 / 6 Nisan 5784
No Comments
Time and Space as Emergent Phenomena — Abstract
The current Torah portion Beshalach tells about the splitting of the Sea of Reeds. As I discussed in my essay, “Collapse and Revelation,” the splitting
January 25, 2024 / 15 Shevat 5784
3 Comments
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
September 10, 2023 / 24 Elul 5783
No Comments
Time as a Combination of the Past and the 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
July 30, 2023 / 12 Av 5783
1 Comment
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
July 21, 2023 / 3 Av 5783
1 Comment
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
July 6, 2023 / 17 Tammuz 5783
No Comments
Creation—Destruction—Reconstruction
Structurally identical biblical accounts of creation, destruction, and restoration are viewed as a manifestation of dialectic triad thesis-antithesis-synthesis.
November 11, 2022 / 17 Heshvan 5783
2 Comments
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
2 Comments
A Wheel Within a Wheel
Now as I beheld the Chayot [living creatures], behold one Ophan [wheel] at the bottom hard by the living creatures, at the four faces thereof. The
May 21, 2021 / 10 Sivan 5781
5 Comments
Sanctuaries in Space and Time
We are quite familiar with space—we move freely in space back and forth; we concur space on land and beyond; we reclaim land from sea;
March 14, 2021 / 1 Nisan 5781
2 Comments
Jacob and Esau—Thermodynamics of Order and Chaos
And these are the chronicles of Isaac… (Genesis 25:19) So Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter
November 23, 2020 / 7 Kislev 5781
2 Comments
Noah’s Ark—Three Layers of Reality
A light shalt thou make to the ark…with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. (Genesis 6:16) We mentioned in the previous posts
October 28, 2020 / 10 Heshvan 5781
1 Comment
Let There Be Light
And G‑d said: “Let there be light.” And there was light. And G‑d saw the light, that it was good; and G‑d separated between the
October 16, 2020 / 28 Tishri 5781
No Comments
Nadab and Abihu — Tragedy in Time
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange
April 19, 2020 / 25 Nisan 5780
No Comments
In the Beginning — It’s All About Change
In the beginning G‑d created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) The first verse in the Torah is key to understanding the fundamentals
March 11, 2020 / 15 Adar 5780
4 Comments
Primordial Serpent—the Incurable Atomist
Now the Serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Eternal G‑d had made. (Genesis 3:1) When G‑d placed Adam
February 14, 2020 / 19 Shevat 5780
3 Comments
It Is Not Good For Man To Be Alone
And the Eternal G‑d said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate opposite him.” (Genesis 2:18)
February 7, 2020 / 12 Shevat 5780
No Comments
Three Angels: Past, Present, and Future
And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of the tent in the heat of the
November 17, 2019 / 19 Heshvan 5780
1 Comment
Noah’s Ark — Sailing through the Flood of Time
Time is a storm in which we are all lost. ” (William Carlos Williams, Introduction to “Selected Essays”) I always had a hard time relating
November 2, 2019 / 4 Heshvan 5780
12 Comments
Cosmic Symphony
Strings vibrate, Souls tremble, Angels are running and returning, G‑d is touching and not touching – The rhythms of the universe… Nothing stays still… all
October 30, 2019 / 1 Heshvan 5780
1 Comment
Sukkot — Bringing Time into Space
Jews have a very strange custom to take four species (Heb. arba’a minim)—a fruit of a citron tree (etrog), a branch of a date palm (lulav), boughs from the myrtle tree (chadassim),
October 18, 2019 / 19 Tishri 5780
3 Comments
Fitting Pieces of the Puzzle Together
Meditations on the Maaseh Merkavah – IV This is the fourth and the final installment in the series of posts related to Ezekiel’s prophesy, Ma’aseh
June 21, 2019 / 18 Sivan 5779
2 Comments
Futurist Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
(A popular summary of the paper “Towards Futuristic Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics” by Alexander Poltorak being currently prepared for publication) Quantum mechanics (QM) is one
June 19, 2019 / 16 Sivan 5779
5 Comments
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
7 Comments
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
7 Comments
Chanukah Menorah – the River of Time
In a Kabbalistic meditation on lighting Chanukah Menorah, the Arizal links the menorah lights with a supernal river (see Candle on the River). The Arizal’s
December 9, 2018 / 1 Tevet 5779
3 Comments
Biblical Relativity
And the life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years… (Gen. 23:1) Why did Esther merit to rule over 127
November 4, 2018 / 26 Heshvan 5779
1 Comment
Shabbat Bereshit – Past, Present, and Future
In the last post, Tishrei—Past, Present, and Future, we discussed how all Tishrei holidays – Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah – are
October 7, 2018 / 28 Tishri 5779
No Comments
Tishrei — Past, Present, and Future
The months of Tishrei is full of holidays, and they all share a common theme—the unification of time—past, present, and future. It all starts with
September 29, 2018 / 20 Tishri 5779
No Comments
Tisha B’Av on Shabbat – A Relativistic Perspective
Yesterday was the 9th day of the month of Av or, in Hebrew, Tisha B’Av. Usually, Tisha B’Av is marked by mourning and fasting. Yesterday,
July 22, 2018 / 10 Av 5778
No Comments
Passover Seder—The Arrow of Time
The Passover Seder is called seder, i.e., “order” not without a reason. It is a highly structured and orchestrated ceremony that follows the ancient script—Passover
March 30, 2018 / 14 Nisan 5778
1 Comment
Joseph—the Master of Time
The story of Joseph’s incarceration ends with his successful interpretation of the dreams of the Pharaoh’s chief butler and the chief baker. He ingeniously interpreted ordinary
December 14, 2017 / 26 Kislev 5778
No Comments
Three-and-a-half Hakafot — Topology of Simchat Torah
Why is this night different from all other nights, asks a child on the Seder night. On this Simchat Torah I asked a different question—why
October 15, 2017 / 25 Tishri 5778
No Comments
Five Worlds
Today, Yud Shvat, is the yartzeit (anniversary of passing) of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, a.k.a. the Rebbe Rayatz, or the Frierdiker
February 6, 2017 / 10 Shevat 5777
No Comments
Fractal Patterns in the Torah
In the Torah portion Emor (Leviticus 21:1–24:23), we are instructed to abstain from work every seventh day on Shabbat. Next week’s Torah portion, Behar, continues
May 31, 2016 / 23 Iyyar 5776
1 Comment
Mezuzah in Three Dimensions
The mezuzah is one of the few miẓvot ([divine] “commandments”) for which the Torah states its reward. In this case, the reward is a long
August 15, 2014 / 19 Av 5774
No Comments
Menorah
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him: “When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah.” (Num. 8:1)
June 8, 2014 / 10 Sivan 5774
No Comments
613 Degrees of Freedom
Passover has ended. All Jews hastily return their Passover dishes to storage in special cabinets or the attic until the next Passover. After an eight-day
June 6, 2014 / 8 Sivan 5774
1 Comment
Four Cups and Three Matzoth
On Seder night we drink four cups of wine and eat three matzoth. Why four cups and not three? Why three matzoth and not four?
April 20, 2014 / 20 Nisan 5774
1 Comment
Pesach – Time of our Freedom
The holiday of Passover – Pesach – is called zman cheruteinu– time of our freedom. As we have discussed many times on this blog (see
April 18, 2014 / 18 Nisan 5774
No Comments
Second Adar – The Month of Quantum Physics
Today is Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet – the New Moon and the beginning of the second month of Adar. If we ever to have a month
March 3, 2014 / 1 Adar II 5774
1 Comment
Splitting of the Sea
Do you like riddles? Here is a riddle – what do these two figures represent in the context of Exodus? No Idea? How about
January 12, 2014 / 11 Shevat 5774
No Comments
Riddle — the answer
And the answer is… (drum roll, please) Yes, the first figure represents two doorposts and the lintel marked with blood of Passover sacrifice and circumcisions as
January 10, 2014 / 9 Shevat 5774
No Comments
Mezuzah and Time
Bo: Exodus 10:1 – 14:16 The Erev Shabbat parshat Bo (the Eve of Sabbath of the week when we read the Torah section Bo) 2014
January 5, 2014 / 4 Shevat 5774
No Comments
Carpe Diem
As we have discussed in the post, It’s the time, stupid, Pharaoh never got the message that it’s all about mastery of time. To make
January 2, 2014 / 1 Shevat 5774
No Comments
It’s the Time, Stupid!
There is a continuous thread about the mastery of time that weaves through the last chapters of the book of Genesis (Bereshit) and continues through
December 31, 2013 / 28 Tevet 5774
No Comments
Interpreting Dreams
In the Torah portion Vayeishev (Gen. 37:1–40:23), we read about Joseph interpreting dreams of the Pharaoh’s chief butler and the chief baker: And the chief butler told
November 24, 2013 / 21 Kislev 5774
3 Comments
A curious Case of Retrocausality—Dead Inherit the Living
Pinchas You shall apportion the Land among these as an inheritance, in accordance with the number of names. To the large [tribe] you shall give a
July 5, 2013 / 27 Tammuz 5773
2 Comments
Paradox of the Red Heifer
Speak to the children of Israel and have them take for you a perfectly red unblemished cow, upon which no yoke was laid… The cow
June 24, 2013 / 16 Tammuz 5773
1 Comment
Tumah and Taharah
The Hebrew words taharah and tumah, which are the subjects of the Torah portion of Chukat (Numbers 19:1–22:1), are usually translated as ritual purity and
June 19, 2013 / 11 Tammuz 5773
No Comments
Freedom in Space, Time and Spirituality
And the entire Mount Sinai smoked because the Lord had descended upon it in fire, and its smoke ascended like the smoke of the kiln…
May 18, 2013 / 9 Sivan 5773
No Comments
On the Nature of Time and the Age of the Universe
Presented at the International Torah and Science Conference in Miami International University on December 18, 2005 Alexander Poltorak Introduction. This is the third in
August 15, 2012 / 27 Av 5772
8 Comments