Convergence of Scientific Knowledge and Torah

Convergence of Scientific Knowledge and Torah as the Messianic Era Approaches

by Dr. Michael Schulman, Executive Director of Ask Noah International

Delivered as a talk at the 4th International Noahide Conference, Jerusalem, Israel, 5779 (20’19).

To read the transcript of this lecture, click here.

The Zohar (p. 116b) contains the following prophetic statement. “In the 600th year of the 6th millennium [5600 in the Hebrew calendar, which is 1840 C.E.], the supernal gates of [spiritual] wisdom will be opened and also the wellsprings of [worldly] wisdom below. This will prepare the world for the 7th millennium.” [The 7th millennium begins with the Hebrew year 6000, when the Messianic Era will be in place.] The Zohar continues, “There is a hint about this in the verse (Genesis 7:11). ‘In the 600th year of Noah’s life… all the fountains of the great deep were broken open, and the windows of the heavens were opened.’ ”

The opening of “wellsprings of wisdom below” was the Industrial Revolution and the advances in science and technology that have been exponentially increasing since that time.

The opening of “supernal gates of wisdom” was a prophecy of vastly expanded teachings of inner dimensions of Torah knowledge. This has happened through the deep spiritual teachings of the Chassidic Masters, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov. In our time, this has been combined with spreading out knowledge of the Torah’s Noahide Code to all people through communications technology.

Sources

1. A main resource for this talk is the book Scientific Thought in Messianic Times, by Shimon Silman, Ph.D.

2. Likkutei Sichos, vol. XVI, p. 87, on the teaching by Rabbi Akiva in the Passover Haggadah that each of the Ten Plagues in Egypt consisted of five plagues, as cited in the book At Our Rebbe’s Seder Table, p. 54, pub. SIE.

3. The technical letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the subject of creation and science, dated 18 Tevet 5722. It has been reprinted in many places, including in the book Mind Over Matter, and on our web page https://asknoah.org/essay/creation-and-science

4. The book Not By Chance! Shattering the Modern Theory of Evolution, by Lee M. Spetner, Ph.D.

5. The Gate of Unity and Faith (Tanya, Part II), by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. See our web page https://asknoah.org/essay/wellsprings-of-spiritual-insight