PRESENTERS’ ABSTRACTS (in alphabetical order)

Nathan Aviezer
"The $10 Billion Accelerator in Geneva: What Can We Learn From It?"

The accelerator in Geneva is the largest and most expensive scientific facility ever built. It is situated in a huge underground doughnut-shaped tube, 17 miles long and 50 feet in diameter, packed with complicated scientific instrumentation. It will be shown how this accelerator is connected to the writings of the Rambam and Rav Kook, and why learning about the universe fulfills basic mitzvoth of the Torah.

The accelerator is an instrument for producing new particles. Why is it so important to produce new particles? The universe consists of particles – the building blocks of all matter. The history of science is the discovery of various fundamental particles, from atoms (eighteenth century) to quarks (twentieth century). It will be shown what has been learned from each discovery, and where science stands today. In clear and simple terms, the outstanding problems of science will be explained. These include the elusive Higgs particle, dark matter, and string theory. The Geneva accelerator is expected to shed important light on all these topics – the fundamental questions of science.

Isaac Elishakoff
"Is it Acceptable to Legislate Mathematical Constants?"

This lecture consists of two parts; in the first one we discuss the attempt to legislate the mathematical constant pi  in the Indiana Legislature in 1897, although it has been erroneously ascribed to Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama.  According to one account, “although it has come to represent the occasional ignorance of  innumerate legislators, it was not obviously a bad idea at the time.” The bill was introduced by Mr. Record but it was reported that “Mr. Record knows nothing of the bill with the exception that he introduced it by request of Dr. Edwin Goodwin of Posey County.” The bill introduced actually several values for the constant pi which  was known already then to be an irrational number (a number that could not be represented as the ratio of two positive integers) and transcendental number ( a number that is not a solution of any polynomial algebraic equation). One of the suggestions was to set pi equal to 16/5=3.2  which is neither transcendental nor  irrational. The bill also legislated the royalty to be paid for the benefit of citizens of Indiana, so it  was well intentioned. As another account states, “luckily the universe did not need to adjust its functioning because the actual mathematician, the chair of Purdue’s math department, happened to be in the chamber at the time, and he took the time to explain the problem.”

This paper discusses the implication of the above incident on the Halachic value for pi, which is 3.

The paper shows that in cases of leniency one can use various approximations to pi, which are less than the true value. In this context the Talmudic value 3 is acceptable as a first approximation. This value was used also by  other nations of ancient past : in China, India, Babylon and Greece, although Archimedes  bracketed the value of pi as being between two ratios, namely between 223/71 and 22/7.

Special Guest
Minister Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz
"Mathematical Stability and Jewish Belief" (opening night talk)

One of the principles in Jewish belief is that everything that G-d created in our world has a good purpose. This raises an old philosophical question: If this is so, then why did G-d create the evil inclination that resides within the soul of every individual? In order to handle this question I shall review some observations and principles of the mathematical theory of stability, and its various applications to physics, biology, ecology, engineering, medicine and economics. I shall use this theory to reach a better understanding of our internal forces and to answer the question posed above.

"On the Mathematical Understanding of the Talmud Sages" (Sunday talk after brunch)

Using two examples, I shall demonstrate the depth of the mathematical insight of our Sages. One example deals with geometric progression, while the other one refers to evaluation of the volume of complex bodies.

Conference Organizer
Nathan Katz
"What Jews Have Learned from Hindus, and Vice-Versa"

This talk explores the interactions and mutual influences between Indic and Judaic civilizations through the ages, especially as embodied in the experience of India's ancient Jewish communities.

Conference Organizer
Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar
"Timeliness and Timelessness, Order and Chaos, Limits and Infinity"

In the process of Creation there are many apparently basic inconsistencies between the Torah and Science perspectives. How and why did G-d create Worlds of Chaos first and only later did He create the World of Order? According to the Big Bang - Expanding Universe theory of Creation, where and how does the Universe expand? If Space itself is a creation that is necessary in order to have some place the Universe can expand into, what is prior to Space? What is the binding force that connects opposing properties such as Energy (fire) and Gas (air), or Liquid (water) and Solid (dust). The most critical question is what difference does this "binding force" make in our daily personal lives. How do the metaphysics of Creation give meaning to our ordinary lives?

Marc Olesky, MSc
"Why G-d Used the Atom to Conceal the Blueprint of Creation"

Jewish scholars refer to the Torah as the blueprint of creation. The primary names used to describe Gd, the phrases, words, letters and their corresponding numerical values, especially those in the initial paragraphs of Genesis, are the means by which Gd brings forth and maintains the world and its inhabitants.

Science, in contrast, primarily chemistry, proposes the atom as the unit of creation. The creative process, which involves changes in associations between atoms to form new molecules, is based on the sharing and exchange of electrons, which orbit the nucleus of the atom. The quantity and distribution of those electrons serve as a blueprint for change that occurs through chemical reactions. The science template for the dynamics of change, particularly the distribution of electrons in each orbital, coincides precisely with the numerical values in the blueprint set forth by the Torah.

Professor Vera Schwarcz
“Youtai: The Jewish Presence in Chinese History, Culture & Thought”

This paper will explore key events from the long history of Jewish presence and influence in China from the Tang dynasty through the 21st century. The focus will be upon the complex process through which Jews translated their creed and identity in the Chinese setting and how China has been affected/changed by its encounter with Jewish personalities and culture.

This mutual transformation may be seen as a springboard to understanding the ways in which the Torah enriches cultures far from the heartland of the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

Rabbi Professor Avraham Steinberg, MD
"Designing Babies - Halakhic Perspectives" (Saturday night talk)

From Planning to Programming – issues of genetic screening, Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic engineering, genetic therapy and cloning. What are the theological and practical halakhic ramifications of these innovative technologies?

"Health Legislations in Israel - Halakhic Perspectives" (Sunday talk after brunch)

Major issues in medicine require significant halakhic input. In recent years several such issues were legislated in Israel, after careful halakhic analysis. I shall discuss the following laws:

The Patient's Right Act, 1966; Genetic Intervention Act, 1999; The Dying Patient Act, 2005; The Brain-death – Respiratory Act, 2008

Rabbi Professor Moshe D. Tendler
Dr. John D. Loike
"Behavioral Trait Enhancement: A Quest for Ethical Genomics" (joint presentation)

New biotechnologies have been developed to reduce the incidence of genetic diseases such as Tay Sachs, Cystic Fibrosis, and Huntington’s disease. Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGSc) in a family with a history of a genetic disease allows a couple to produce healthy children by selecting embryos that do not carry the genes responsible for those diseases. In addition, PGSc may also be used to select the gender of the child and to select embryos that express genes that influence behavior, sexual preference, intelligence, spirituality, physical characteristics, and athleticism. Genetic screening of a fetus is another method that can be used to help select for healthy babies, but the issue of pregnancy termination raises a halakhic barrier for fetal screening. New genetic fetal screening technology is currently under development that may lead to the ability to halakhically screen a fetus for genetic diseases. Using case studies, we will discuss the newest scientific achievements in these areas within a halakhic framework. We will highlight those situations where halakha would support PGSc and those situations where it would be halakhically inappropriate to engage in genetic screening.

Zion Zohar
"What Jews Have Learned from Arabs/Muslims, and Vice-Versa"

This talk explores the influential interactions between Arabs/Muslims and Judaic literary activities in Arab/Muslim lands throughout the ages, with a special emphasis on the Middle Ages. In addition, particular attention will be given to philosophical and scientific literature. If time allows, I will also touch upon other spheres of literary creativity.