Emes Ve-Emunah: Sources for an Ancient Universe.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Sources for an Ancient Universe.

My response to letters from Jewish Press readers is up on the Jewish Press website located here. I go into a bit more detail about Rabbi Kaplan's thesis there than I have in on this blog. However I highly recommend that the website for Rabbi Kaplan’s thesis be accessed (included in my response to letters in the Jewish Press) for the full impact of his essay. It is well worth the time... as much for his attitude about those who reject science out of hand as for the sources he cites.

Comment Rules

Before you read the rules read this IMPORTANT MESSAGE: If you are having trouble accessing comments copy and past the following url: http://haemtza.blogspot.com That should get you you to the 'not secure' version of my blog where comments are visible. if that doesn't work, try a different browser. Firefox seems to work best. It can be downloaded at: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

1. Fill in your name or an alias. Do not leave blank or use the name 'guest' or 'anonymous'.

2. No Nivul Peh. Profanity will be deleted.

3. No personal attacks. Be kind in your comment even if you disagree.

4. To avoid automatic moderation - see here

My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.