Clayton Gutzmore/Contributing Writer
Nathan Katz quoted Albert Einstein: “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”
These two topics are both explored through conversation by many professors, doctors and other astute Jewish intellectuals at the Torah Science Conference.
“For the last 20 years we have brought together leading rabbis and top-notch scientists for appreciation and understanding of their viewpoints on religion and science,” said Katz, the director of the Program in the Study of Spirituality.
TSC is a four day conference produced by the members of The Shul, a Jewish community center located on Collins Avenue in Surfside. The conference occurs every two years and this year marks the 10th year anniversary, Katz said.
“We have invited Avraham Steinberg who is leading religious authority in medical ethics and winner of the Israel prize,” said Katz, who is also one of the main organizers of the TSC.
According to Katz, the Program in the Study of Spirituality has been a co-sponsor of the conference for the past 12 to 14 years.
This year’s conference is going to host 16 presenters with provoking subjects of religion and science. The conference happens around this time of the year between semesters to allow more professors to join.
The Shul has based the criteria of the featured speakers on their topics of research. The 16 individuals come from institutions such as Columbia University, University of Maryland and colleges from Jerusalem.
“I am most excited for the opportunity to discuss with colleagues various issues of Torah and Science,” said Joseph Bodenheimer, a professor at the Jerusalem College of Technology and an organizer of the conference.
At the last conference, John Loike, one of the professors from the Department of Physiology at Columbia University, presented the possible reality of cloning and the implications this would have on the laws of Judaism.
Author and Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s presentation used scientific concepts, like matter turning into energy and water turning into gas, to open the question: “Does life really end?”
This year, Bodenheimer will present his own take of the opening chapters of the Torah, the sacred book of Judaism. These chapters discuss the Genesis.
“This will be my second time presenting at the conference,” said Bodenheimer. “I want attendants to leave with a clearer understanding of how the Torah casts light on our lives as persons.”
According to Katz, the TSC is a mind-opening experience with topics covering the origin of the universe to neuroscience.
“A large part of this conference is not to just read papers, we want people to understand the harmonized viewpoints of both science and religion from top-level scientists and rabbis,” Katz said.
– clayton.gutzmore@fiusm.com
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