Do dinosaurs exist?
Rabbi Yechiel Krisch, a lecturer on the intersection between science, technology, medicine, and authentic Judaism, posed a challenge to students of Cheder Chabad of Monsey’s mechina division.
In Shvat, Rabbi Krisch came to the sixth through eighth grade classes with a proposition: tell me what fascinates you and I will show you what Torah and halacha have to say about it. The topics came fast and furious. Boys were interested in black holes and nuclear power, mythical beasts and weapons of mass destruction, astrology and cars.
“The emphasis of the course is twofold,” Krisch explains. “B’chol d’rachecha da’ehu. We want the students to understand that they can find Hashem in everything. And we are empowering them to demonstrate to those who believe that Torah is a dusty old book, that every single thing is sourced in Torah.”
The series’ premise is based on a sicha from 1969. On a hot shabbos afternoon in Menachem-Av of that year, just before Apollo 11 landed on the moon, the farbrengen at 770 featured a sicha on aliens. The Rebbe said that he was discussing aliens not because they inform our avodas Hashem but because it is critical for people to know that aliens can be found in the Torah (Shiras Devora).
In general, the Rebbe continued, it is important to be familiar with the Torah’s take on what interests the public because when a person goes on mivtzoyim he can make an initial connection through that timely topic. When people see that each concept is in the Torah, and not only that, but that Torah presents the definitive and most ethical opinion on these matters, the reputation of yiddishkeit is strengthened.
For their recent exploration of dragons, the students began by opening their chumashim. They then hopped over to the mishna, perused a daf in Gemara, and dissected some relevant sources in Chassidus. “The boys are always surprised and thrilled to discover that these familiar sources are discussing topics that interest them in 5784,” shares Krisch.
This course is part of a rich mechina program rolled out this year by Rabbi Shaya Itkin. In an effort to prepare talmidim for mesivta, the initiative blends additional learning and creative programs with the school’s rigorous curriculum.
One popular example has been regular visits by Rabbi Shmuly Butler who delights the boys with precious items and stories from Beis Rabbeinu. “It’s all about implementing innovative and engaging ways to enhance our children’s chinuch,” explains the school’s Executive Director Rabbi Dovid Brawer. “One stimulating class at a time.”
“Our goal is to demonstrate unequivocally that the Torah has something to say about everything that they are interested in,” Krisch states. “Hopefully that will give them a lifelong chayus in their learning and in their chassidishkeit and the ammunition to transmit that chayus to others.”
VIDEO:
A jem to the world. These boys are very lucky to be sitting in his presence let alone to be taught by rabbi krish.
Yay for the cheider and hurray for Rabbi Krisch.
Dirah lo Yisborach bepoiel mamosh.
Bringing MOSHIACH NOW!
There is the famous question: “Does the sun revolve around the earth or vice-versa?” The Rebbe’s famous view on that is that according to Einstein’s theory of relativity, scientifically, you cannot tell one from the other. But, was this observation lost on the astronomers, centuries before, who concluded that the earth revolves around the sun? In the 15th century, renowned astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, who by the way, was a religious man, was bothered by the the accepted notion at the time, that the other planetary bodies, including the sun, revolve around the earth. This was because, if the other bodies… Read more »
For this reason the Greeks said that there are mini spheres (galgalim) within the 9 spheres. (This was brought in this weeks Rambam).
Copernicus came up with a different answer to this question.
But, did they have anything to say about the RETROGRADE affect?
This was the “proof” that the earth revolves around the sun in a yearly cycle. This is the accepted view today.
See this video of Rabbi Jacobson on the subject, where I also
posted this question:
https://www.theyeshiva.net/jewish/7621/rambam-mishneh-torah-15-rambam-hilchos-yesodei-hatorah-chapter-3
In the geocentric model of the Solar System proposed by Apollonius in the third century BCE, retrograde motion was explained by having the planets travel in deferents and epicycles.