It’s always a bad idea when I spurn Susan Lapin’s advice. No good has ever come of it. In fact, I must confess to more than one painful memory of the consequences of doing so. Nonetheless, here goes. Susan says, “Go light on science topics; it won’t interest women as much as it interests men.”
I had three responses to her today. First, I may inadvertently be escalating arrogance to new levels of obnoxiousness, but I think I can write about science engagingly for everyone. Second, worst case scenario, I have a male friend in North Carolina, who’ll just love this! Third, I have to speak science if I wish to teach this aspect of ancient Jewish wisdom.
So here goes and please be gentle with your comments. I don’t want to be subjected to a self-envisaged burden of, “I told you so!”
Imagine a shiny silvery sphere about the size of a ping pong ball. Based on its size and upon your life experience, you expect to pick it up easily with your thumb and forefinger. To your astonishment, you need your entire hand to lift it as it actually weighs well over a pound. Turns out, it is not a hollow Christmas ornament. It’s a ball of uranium and is surprisingly heavy and dense. (For this thought experiment, we’re using a type of uranium called Uranium 235)
Now imagine a uranium sphere the size of a bowling ball; it weighs well over one hundred pounds. More importantly, it is enough uranium to constitute what is called critical mass. Whereas the ping pong ball of uranium is almost inert and does nothing, the bowling ball of uranium contains enough of the radioactive material to start a spontaneous nuclear reaction, getting hotter and hotter. (Don’t try this at home!)
The heat from that ball of uranium can boil water into steam which can drive a turbine and push an aircraft carrier across the Pacific Ocean. The smaller ping pong ball of uranium produces no heat at all.
One of the truly fascinating permanent principles of ancient Jewish wisdom is that for every single physical law governing material phenomena, God set up a parallel spiritual law.
What is the matching spiritual equivalent to the idea of physical critical mass that we just discussed? Have you ever noticed how the first few people at a party drift around aimlessly? Nobody is having much fun until…yes, you’ve got it. The party takes off when enough people have arrived for it to hit critical mass.
Here’s another example: If one or two people stop on a busy sidewalk and peer upwards, nothing much is likely to happen. However, if ten or eleven people stop on that same sidewalk and gaze upwards, you can be sure others will join in.
Ladies, can we look at one more example or is Susan right when she says, “You’re pushing your luck!”?
In the 17th century, a deeply religious and Bible-believing English scientist, Isaac Newton, identified three laws of motion. The third one states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. For instance, when one fires a gun, the action is that a bullet goes flying out the barrel towards its target. The reaction is that the gun recoils and pushes back against your hand or shoulder. Another example is that if a billiard ball rolls across the velvet and strikes a second ball, both are affected by the impact. The action is that the second ball starts moving. The reaction is that the first ball bounces away in a new direction as a result of the impact.
The spiritual equivalent to Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion is that if you push another person away from you, you also start feeling distant. In marriage, sometimes without even meaning to do so, a wife might rebuff her husband. Naturally he feels banished and hurt. However, what we now understand is that often without even knowing why, she too feels more alienated from him. The action is her pushing him away. The reaction is that she feels just as much pushed away in the opposite direction.
The same principle is often found in business relationships and works for positive as well as negative. For instance, if a merchant does something really nice for a customer, the action is that the customer feels good towards the merchant. The reaction is that the merchant starts feeling newfound sensations of appreciation towards his customer.
I know I spurned Susan’s advice in writing this Thought Tool on a scientific topic, but Newton’s First Law of Motion explains that without any outside force acting upon it, a body remains at rest. This means that if you don’t engage the gear and press down on the accelerator, your car will remain stationary.
The spiritual equivalent of this law is that we humans tend towards lethargy unless stimulated to action. Do you think it possible that with full knowledge of this spiritual law, my smart wife knew that in discouraging me from writing a scientific Thought Tool, she’d actually be goading me towards doing so? That would be scary.
Ladies, now is your chance to support me by obtaining your own copy of The Gathering Storm: Decoding the Secrets of Noah. This audio CD starts with another example of a physical and spiritual law and goes on to cover abortion, child raising, affluence and so much more. It even explains why the boring ‘begat’ sections of Scripture aren’t boring! Please get it (on sale) right now.
What was Susan thinking? I’ll probably find out when I read the comments.
Thank you. This helped me understand a situation I’m in currently.
It’s a privilege to be of service Judy,
as you know, our mission is to make ancient Jewish wisdom accessible in a form that offers practical and life enhancing value.
I hope your situation resolves satisfactorily. The word ‘situation’ nearly always seems to mean something not good, doesn’t it? “I find myself in something of a situation”, “can we talk, we have a bit of a situation developing” or “I am afraid you’ve caused a little situation”. I can’t remember an instance of a good situation. But I hope yours is!
Cordially
RDL
Hi Rabbi Lapin (and Susan):
Reading this week’s Thought Tool reminds me that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 KJV. Both the physical and the spiritual were created by God right in the beginning.
It’s always a safe bet for you to be able to please a male friend from North Carolina, for it sounds like from this comment string that you have plenty of redundancy in that category 😉
And for my part, feel free to quadruple down on that bet any time. As far as I’m concerned, you never miss.
Glad to know that you and Susan collaborate on TT (that’s news to me). Btw, I was re-reading Volume One of Thought Tools very recently. Powerful stuff. Sure appreciate you both.
Dear Peter (and Marsha):
Yes, we do collaborate on Thought Tool (you don’t think I pull it off single-handedly do you?). Truth is that our writing and broadcasting, our books, appearances, and programs are as much the fruit of our union as are our children.
You’re exactly right that the opening verse of Genesis exposes the parallelism of physical and spiritual.
Thanks for writing, Oh North Carolina friend, it is always a pleasure hearing from you.
Cordially
RDL
Everything that needed to be said about this TT has been said. I can only add my humble Thank You to the Lapin Family.
Thank you Louis–
We feel honored to serve you. But we must add that nowhere near everything about the topic of this Thought Tool has been said. I doubt we have covered 1%. But it is a good start! We’re grateful to have you as a reader.
Cordially
RDL
This is a great Thought Tool. I am an engineer and believe that the world has absolutes in social matters as well as the physical world. God created both so there are absolutes in both.
People who don’t believe in absolutes in good/evil, right/wrong, drive me nuts. We see this in every social battle (calling evil – evil, the importance of life at all stages, sexuality, gender (a prime confusion example), the age of the universe). In physical things we count on the absolutes for – everything.
Then when we get to human interactions all of a sudden nothing has a firm foundation. Very illogical.
You’re very compelling Anita
As befits an engineer. Of course you’re correct. There’s only one way to shape a wing to give an airplane lift, there’s only one way to get an electic circuit to oscillate and there’s only one way to combine hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon to make sugar but they insist that there are dozens of different ways to arrange marriage.
Cordially
RDL
Please make more CDs like the ones in The Genesis Journeys Set. They are so interesting. I learned a great deal about “how the world really works” from them. Thank you for all you and Susan do. It is appreciated!
Jan, We are eager to do more Genesis Journeys as well – or maybe Exodus Excursions! Now that our new website is up and running we have a few more technical barriers to leap and then we hope to move into content creation. Hearing from people like you really encourages us.
What an explosive Thought Tool on a great topic! After reading this, I will monitor my actions even closer that I would reap the optimal reaction. Thank you:)
Delicious! My late dearly beloved household Philosopher and I used to play the same game. You and Susan are simply using different perspectives to reach the same end. I have never had any serious interest in the natural sciences (social sciences are a whole ‘nother ball game), but I enjoy well-written illustrations such as the uranium balls. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and: thesis + antithesis = synthesis/synergy, better than either alone. Susan just put a finger in your pie. Sweet!
Thanks Deb–
Your perception of how Mrs Lapin and I work together is cheering. By the way, sometime I’ll write about why I don’t accept ‘social science’ as a science. Not saying it’s not worth understanding, just that nothing involving human behavior is ever a science. Even economics should not be misportrayed as a science. No science textbook or theory can explain why two people who have earned the identical sums of money for identical periods of time and live in identical cost-of-living circumstances and who’s only difference is they have different cultures and different sets of cultural values, end up with vastly different net worthy. In other words, why some spend indiscriminately and some save and invest can never be answered in a non spiritual or scientific way.
With my pie well and truly fingered,
Cordially
RDL
I am reading this article and laughing!! Susan is most certainly right that many women are not as enthusiastic about the world of science as they are about building relationships. I’m one of them. I still vividly remember faithfully enduring science courses in school thinking “I will never need this knowledge in my future”. To this day it holds true (or at least I though it was true): I’ve always been in people business.
But wait…. Your teachings have opened my eyes to the simple fact of life: “that for every single physical law governing material phenomena, God set up a parallel spiritual law”.
This realization birthed a love for science in me. Now I often find myself googling physical laws and figuring out how do I apply them to my spiritual reality? Needless to say that the laws work and all my relationships are blossoming!!
So a healthy dose of science is very beneficial for all God’s children))) Keep teaching, rabbi!!
Thank you Anna
There’s a special place in heaven for those who make someone laugh so I was really happy to hear that you were laughing while reading this Thought Tool.
Cordially
RDL
i live in north carolina and i wish we were friends
We are, Bob,
We are. We just haven’t met yet, that’s all. And provided you receive Thought Tools on a free subscription, you’ll hear when I’m next speaking in NC and perhaps we can meet then.
Cordially
RDL
Tricky! You made us think that you and Susan were opposed on this issue and that spurred me on to read it. If you had gone too much in depth with your examples, you would have lost me. But it is a great example of how science and the Bible can work together and teach us so much! Good job!
We do occasionally disagree Rebecca,
But when that happens we nearly always work it out and come to agreement before either of us ‘goes public’. One exception is that I believe the so-called ‘war on drugs’ is futile and lost and should be terminated with legalization of any and all drugs. I don’t write or speak on it since Susan doesn’t agree.
Cordially
RDL
Dear Rabbi,
I find it fascinating and wonderful that you write a thank-you and a comment for every comment to your article!! That shows appreciation for your readers and supporters. I am a little bit like that too. Whenever I get a Happy Birthday on Facebook, I have to say thanks.
Dear Lynne–
This is an automatic response….This is an automatic response…This is an automatic response….This is…
Just kidding of course. Yes, we greatly appreciate our large and growing family of readers, listeners, and watchers.
Cordially
RDL
Thank you Paula–
But c’mon, weren’t you even a teensy bit intrigued at how a seemingly innocuous metal ball can power a mighty ship?
Appreciate your kind comments.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
As a big no-no in science, I did get the lesson yet I reckon Susan is right on the other 99% of advice 😉 Love the way you write, it always renews my perspective.
Well said, useful, and interesting. I will take a listen to the lessons of Not oah. ?
Thanks Cary–
Let me know if you get value from it. I hope you will.
Cordially
RDL
Seemed a fine article to me. Actually, I saw more than science. I saw the idea of there being absolutes in life. Biblical morality is an absolute, inviolable and immutable. This is why our society is so much in disarray. We don’t have any moral ground to stand on because humanism has legislated it out of our nation.
You put your finger on the main point, Kent,
Thank you. Indeed, the idea is that just as there are inviolable physical laws of the world, there are also equally inviolable spiritual laws in the world. Ignore at your peril. Both.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
As a woman who loves Rabbi Lapin’s thought tools and who enjoys science, I have to agree with Susan. You would have been better off if you had left the thought tool out and stuck with the story of Isaac Newton and the people examples. If I had been your editor the uranium would have gotten the ax.
Dear Gerry–
You really know how to hurt a guy!
Won’t you please meet Donna and Shannon above?
I am so grateful that you have better things to do in life than being my editor. Evidently it would be painful for both of us!
You wouldn’t really have blue-pencilled the uranium would you? You’re just trying to get to me, surely? Oh the tribulations of a rabbi!
Seriously though, Susan and I appreciate your being part of our Thought Tool family.
Best wishes,
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Frankly, I find it difficult to have a conversation with women who always talk about their children, or the latest fashion. Give me something I can sink my teeth into and can respond to!
Thank you Rabbi.
Sharon
Dear Sharon–
Thanks for writing. I want to tell you about my children; and thank God, there are seven so I have quite a bit to tell you. I think I will just relate something about all of them. But if I did so, there would be insufficient time for me to tell you of the new winter jacket I found yesterday. Black, with a nice cut and very warm. Don’t you just love it when you can sink your teeth into a good conversation about children and fashion with——–a man!!!
Thanks for being part of our Thought Tool family
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Loved this exchange. Made me laugh out loud!!
Laughter is one way in which we humans are distinguished from camels, cats, cows, and kangaroos, dear Lloyd, so I am really happy to have contributed in a small way to your laughter. I look forward to many more such opportunities.
Cordially
RDL
I thought your comments on scientific laws were informative. I enjoy science and liked your talk about the topic today. It’s been interesting I had horrible customer service at Sears yesterday and because of that I will no longer be making any jewelry purchases there. I will also tell my friends and family and other people about the department manager who waited on me her bad attitude tapping on the counter and sighing impatiently while I looked for a coupon on my phone for 20 percent of my purchase I made. My boyfriend said she rolled her eyes at me tossed her head and then stomped off came back and yelled at me I’ve got the 20 percent coupon you don’t need it!. She was very rude disrespectful and impatient towards me to say the least. The store manager was not there yesterday. I will be speaking to him first thing this morning and tell him I bought a lot of jewelry and other purchases at sears over the last year and they have lost a good customer because of her horrible customer service. I’m going to ask for sears Administration phone number too. Your talk on this subject was very relavent to my life experience at Sears yesterday thank you Rabbi Daniel Lapin.
Dear Kindra
Companies and managers should want to hear about lamentable customer service. One of the real problems facing companies in many parts of the country as well as in the UK, is the challenge of finding employees with the spiritual qualities of being trainable. Today many young people leave school believing they have a right to a job and resent customers for being demanding. No amount of training can overcome someone who was raised with no impulse control. You had a bad experience to be sure. But I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the manager of that Sears is frustrated by the low quality of job applicants.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
HAHA-most accurate, unfort. most people outside the circle are clueless having not studied Physics and Philosophy on their own. And not the athiestic propaganda that is taught to ALL the public and private institutions here in America…..
Correct me IF I am wrong, but in Jewish Philosophy when 2 are ‘Married’ there is a contract written long before the ceremony. There are RULES of Engagement for people, and too many people are clueless (esp. MEN). I READ the small print, Did not like it, but continue to adapt it…..
Progress, not Perfection……
THX MY RABBIE
You are correct Carl
There is a Jewish wedding contract. And it does contain strict rules of behavior. But in Government Indoctrination Camps (GICs) often misleadingly called ‘schools’ or more ridiculously ‘institutions of higher education’ children are indoctrinated to utter ignorance of how the world REALLY works. They then struggle in marriage and also in business.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
A beautiful piece of wisdom. 🙂
Thank you Efiom–
Nice of you to appreciate both the aesthetic elegance of the symmetry between physical and spiritual as well as the intellectual content of ancient Jewish wisdom. Both astound me every day.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
By reading and listening to you long enough, this wife and mother is finally learning how things really work. Thank you to you and Susan. God bless you.
This husband and father really appreciates you writing, Julie–
And teaching how the world REALLY works is my purpose.
Thanks for reading!
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
This time round we support you rabbi. I even wish you can do more of them. I have enjoyed this one and also the one on entropy in the gathering storm. Rabbi, you are a great teacher and it’s always an honor listening to you and reading your work. God bless you and your family greatly.
Thanks so much Rita–
Actually Susan and I wrote this one together as we do most Thought Tools! Thanks for remembering the entropy discussion in TGS. I also loved doing that important program.
Thanks for being part of Thought Tools family
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
We have three daughters and the oldest is a scientist. Science is one of our favorite family discussion topics, as well as for TV viewing. So keep up the science analogies, we love them.
On a personal level, I appreciate the principle you were teaching. I have personal experience with both the positive and the negative aspects of your lesson. and I have learned to never underestimate the power of a smile on both the receiver and the giver.
Thanks Donna–
Our oldest daughter also has a science training and teaches science to our great delight.
Thanks for writing
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
I am a woman and susan is right at least in my case– science bores me stiff! I pushed through the sciency intro because as a regular reader of TT, I knew there was a great point being made. And there was! Your two produce a wonderful synergy together and it’s always delightful to read what you both write.
Dear Tikvah Chava–
I hope you are confirming my fond yet utterly unsupported conviction that I can present scientific topics engagingly. I am not sure that my fragile ego could withstand the disappointment of a refutation.
You are certainly correct when you observe that we both wrote it. And we enjoyed doing so. Thanks so much for reading it in spite of the ‘sciency’ stuff, and thanks for writing.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Sorry Mrs. L, the good Rabbi is correct. Science is awesome! For me science and math is the universal language and the tangible proofs of faith- we all speak 2+2=4, we all understand movement requires motivational force. Its how God whispers sense to us…gently, reliably.
Dear Shanon-Who-Loves-Maths,
Thanks for your letters. Just between you and me, in truth, Mrs L was totally on-board with this Thought Tool. We didn’t really argue about it. Like everthing that comes from us, it was another collaboration! But you knew that.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Loved it! You can feel free to mix in science, anytime! Very informative.
May you continue to be blessed!
Thanks for the blessing Malvina
Looking back over eight years of Thought Tools, science shows up with surprising frequency. It is, after all, a way of understanding how the world REALLY works.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
I LOVE science discussions! I like to learn if I don’t know or understand! Please keep some coming! Blessings of wisdom!
Thank you Barbara,
I appreciate the reassurance!
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Loved it. Sorry, I am a man.
mark
Thanks Mark–
And I know you’ll love next week’s on cosmetics and cooking!
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Tell Susan, the male friend in North Carolina loved it! I learned something new as well! Always a new insight!
Hello Susan (and male friend in NC)
I thought you might smile!
Cordially
RDL
This is a great post! Loved the examples, but I like science and history. No complaints from this gal!
Thanks for the affirmation, Rebecca–
It really is important for me to know that I have ‘gal’ readers and that they are okay when I touch on what are often thought of as ‘guy’ topics.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Sorry Susan (love and respect you very much) …this female understands (and appreciates the science) The science doesn’t step on my toes as much as the practical, spiritual, Biblical application does.
I only wish I had understood this ” In marriage, sometimes without even meaning to do so, a wife might rebuff her husband. Naturally he feels banished and hurt. However, what we now understand is that often without even knowing why, she too feels more alienated from him. ” as well as I understand Uranium
Blessing to you both AND THANKS so much for your ministry – Thought Tools, Ask the Rabbi, Susan’s Musings and on TV
What an interesting (and plaintive) letter, Karen,
For us all, it is always easier to understand inanimate objects and processes than it is to understand people. And understanding ourselves is the hardest of all.
Thanks for being part of our work.
Cordially
RDL
American Alliance of Jews and Christians
http://www.RabbiDanielLapin.com
Ancient Jewish Wisdom TV Show http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/on-demand-ajw
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
I for one enjoy science. I liked your thought tool lesson. People in relationship influence each other, for the good one hopes. Collectively theology influences a nation and the world, again for the good. Looking at the time line of history, our collective theology has resulted in a more just society. We can measure that result of the increased justice, and collective humanity, by looking at the world’s societies. As long as God continues to see advancement, He will let us work out our humanity for the good, no matter how long it takes. Thank you, God, for your mercies. Linda Rias
Thanks for writing Linda-
Your words encourage me, as does your optimism.
Cordially
RDL
I happen to love science!
Thanks Judy–
It does help us understand how the world REALLY works!
Cordially
RDL
Bravo! As a SAHM of five I did have to intentionally pull my mind back into focus over some of the details, but the lesson was worth it! 🙂 So, so true!
And yes, you may be onto something about your smart wife. I’m still refining the art myself! 😉
Thanks Rachel,
Susan and I appreciate what you are doing for our society’s future by being a SAHM and by bringing five children into the world.
Cordially
RDL
very succintly written. thank you
Thank you Kathee–
The challenge is always to keep it between 700 and 1,000 words-never more. I can write a 3,000 word article or chapter far more quickly than I can write a 700 word Thought Tool. The idea is to respect our readers’ time and give them maximum value or minimum time invested. I hope you sometimes get a chance to listen to the podcast too https://soundcloud.com/rabbi-daniel-lapin-show
Cordially
RDL
Well said. Agree with every word.