Rabbi Slifkin: your cultural sensitivity has enabled you to bridge a considerable gap in the Jewish world, and give impressionable young Chassidic children an opportunity to learn about the natural world in a way they might not have ever been exposed to before. Because you are respectful of Boundaries in their cultural world view, you are able to navigate a complex discussion in a manner that does not cross a red line they cannot tolerate. With repeated sensitive exposure, and sometimes with legal secular structure, perhaps we can continue creating more bridges. Thank you for presenting ALL sides of the equations needed to bridge major gaps in the Jewish traditional world.
Not related but I came across a pile of books left outside of a Jerusalem apartment building the other day.
It's a "frum" neighborhood, mainly populated with both black hatter olim and Israeli hareidim. Seems like the books removed from the premises might have all had in common that they might not be "frum" enough any longer to be kept in the former owner's home.
I picked up 4 books. One of the books is by a Christian pastor who urges Jews to stick to their heritage. I was already familiar with the pastor's name. He is one out of a billion. If you think otherwise, you are being hoodwinked.
Another book is titled "Not By Chance - The Fall of Neo-Darwinian Theory," by Lee M. Spencer PhD.
The two last books are titled "Focus" and "Second Focus,' by someone named Nosson Slifkin.
"The museum is already set up to be sensitive to charedi requirements - there are no dinosaur skeletons, no evolution exhibits, no “controversial” material."
What's the problem? It would be a problem to present something false. But we don't have to present everything that's true. And it's not relevant to the museum's topic anyway.
Well, there's something called lying by omission. When you don't "present everything that's true," you run the risk of conveying a false impression. If I tell you that the Sun rises in the morning and descends in the evening, and I don't tell you that actually it's the Earth that is turning to create that perception, by withholding the truth I have created an entirely erroneous impression. I have lied to you. Frankly, presenting anything about life -- animal, vegetable, bacterial, whatever -- without discussing the mechanism by which that life takes its current form and function is no less misleading.
I mean imagine if a group of people who believe the Earth is flat came to your museum. Would you feel comfortable adjusting you narrative so that everything fits well with their flat-Earth belief? At what point do you say to yourself, "Gee whiz, I'm really lying to these people."
That IS absurd. But if you are educating people about animals and why they have the features and behaviors they have adapted for the environments in which they live, evolution is an essential part of that conversation. I'd be curious what kind of conversation about animals you can have that does not touch on their appearance or behavior and its suitability for the environment.
The religious world is governed by fear to far too great a degree. And Rabbi Slifkin is among the bravest, but still. "We can't print this, we can't show this, we can't say this." Self-censorship is deadly to truth.
This is beautiful and Kol Hakavod for catering to cultural sensitivities! It shows that your dedication to education trumps other considerations. Especially in light of your (correct IMHO) analysis of and feelings toward the current social disputes, it is encouraging that your desire to spread the knowledge and beauty of the museum takes precedence.
Speaking of presidents.... here's one who should never be invited to give tours!
As we all know, in Gur they don’t reproduce the way everyone else does it.
Rabbi Slifkin: your cultural sensitivity has enabled you to bridge a considerable gap in the Jewish world, and give impressionable young Chassidic children an opportunity to learn about the natural world in a way they might not have ever been exposed to before. Because you are respectful of Boundaries in their cultural world view, you are able to navigate a complex discussion in a manner that does not cross a red line they cannot tolerate. With repeated sensitive exposure, and sometimes with legal secular structure, perhaps we can continue creating more bridges. Thank you for presenting ALL sides of the equations needed to bridge major gaps in the Jewish traditional world.
Wow, kol hakavod, 6 tours is a lot in one day! Refua shleima to whoever fell down the stairs. What's the name for davening?
It was just two stairs, and he's okay now!
Not related but I came across a pile of books left outside of a Jerusalem apartment building the other day.
It's a "frum" neighborhood, mainly populated with both black hatter olim and Israeli hareidim. Seems like the books removed from the premises might have all had in common that they might not be "frum" enough any longer to be kept in the former owner's home.
I picked up 4 books. One of the books is by a Christian pastor who urges Jews to stick to their heritage. I was already familiar with the pastor's name. He is one out of a billion. If you think otherwise, you are being hoodwinked.
Another book is titled "Not By Chance - The Fall of Neo-Darwinian Theory," by Lee M. Spencer PhD.
The two last books are titled "Focus" and "Second Focus,' by someone named Nosson Slifkin.
Wish I had such luck whenever I go fishing!
Oy vey!
"The museum is already set up to be sensitive to charedi requirements - there are no dinosaur skeletons, no evolution exhibits, no “controversial” material."
I'm curious how you justify this intellectually.
What's the problem? It would be a problem to present something false. But we don't have to present everything that's true. And it's not relevant to the museum's topic anyway.
Well, there's something called lying by omission. When you don't "present everything that's true," you run the risk of conveying a false impression. If I tell you that the Sun rises in the morning and descends in the evening, and I don't tell you that actually it's the Earth that is turning to create that perception, by withholding the truth I have created an entirely erroneous impression. I have lied to you. Frankly, presenting anything about life -- animal, vegetable, bacterial, whatever -- without discussing the mechanism by which that life takes its current form and function is no less misleading.
I mean imagine if a group of people who believe the Earth is flat came to your museum. Would you feel comfortable adjusting you narrative so that everything fits well with their flat-Earth belief? At what point do you say to yourself, "Gee whiz, I'm really lying to these people."
So every time people say anything about animals they have to mention evolution? Sorry, that seems absurd.
That IS absurd. But if you are educating people about animals and why they have the features and behaviors they have adapted for the environments in which they live, evolution is an essential part of that conversation. I'd be curious what kind of conversation about animals you can have that does not touch on their appearance or behavior and its suitability for the environment.
Rabbi Slifkin,
Did you ever consider setting up a Torah and Science museum. Explaining Astronomy, geology, Paleontology and Evolution…?
No way!
Perhaps a little too….controversial…?? 😱
The religious world is governed by fear to far too great a degree. And Rabbi Slifkin is among the bravest, but still. "We can't print this, we can't show this, we can't say this." Self-censorship is deadly to truth.
This is beautiful and Kol Hakavod for catering to cultural sensitivities! It shows that your dedication to education trumps other considerations. Especially in light of your (correct IMHO) analysis of and feelings toward the current social disputes, it is encouraging that your desire to spread the knowledge and beauty of the museum takes precedence.
Speaking of presidents.... here's one who should never be invited to give tours!
https://media1.tenor.com/m/sUhdcm9asWIAAAAd/gerald-ford-ford.gif