Torah Study with Guest Scholar Dr. Howard Smith

Gather with the Temple Israel community onsite or online for Saturday morning Torah Study. Following the service, guest scholar Dr. Howard Smith will lead our community in an interactive teaching entitled Modern Cosmology and the Kabbalah – New Insights for Religion and Science. The universe is a breathtakingly amazing place, and its beginning is ever better understood using modern tools of astronomy. The Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah presents a picture remarkably similar to that of modern cosmology. Both offer insights, but both have limits.  We will review their complementary ideas and consider implications for our intellectual and spiritual lives.

Join us onsite, register here to join us on Zoom, or log on via Temple Israel's livestream.

Afterwards, please join us at an oneg to connect with friends and community.

Questions? Call 617-566-3960 or email info@tisrael.org.

About Dr. Howard Smith

Dr. Howard Smith is a Senior Astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge. His research emphasizes the origins of stars and galaxies using infrared techniques, and he has over four hundred published articles. He has been recognized by Harvard for his excellence in teaching. He has been the principal investigator on many national and international space missions, grants, and programs. Dr. Smith was previously the chair of the astronomy department of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington where he played a key role in developing museum galleries, education programs, videos, and IMAX movies, including the Academy Award nominee “Cosmic Voyage.” A traditionally observant Jew, he has lectured on religion, science, cosmology and Kabbalah to people from all religious faiths or atheistic perspectives and to those who normally have only a passing interest or knowledge in science or Jewish mysticism. His widely acclaimed book, "Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology, a New Conversation Between Science and religion" (New World Library) and his many journal articles and newspaper OpEd articles can be accessed at his website. 

Other Learning Sessions

Qabbalat Shabbat with Guest Scholar Dr. Howard Smith, Friday, April 5, 6:00 p.m.

Aliens!? The Truth is we are Alone in the Universe with Guest Scholar Dr. Howard Smith, Sunday, April 7, 10:00 a.m.

This project is part of a national program entitled "Scientists in Synagogues," a grass-roots initiative run by Sinai and Synapses in consultation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion, and funded by the John Templeton Foundation, along with other individual donors.