The Knesset held a Torah & Science event attended by Science Minister (Yesh Atid) Yaakov Peri. Also attending was MK Moshe Gafne, who chairs the Knesset Science Committee, MK (Shas) Shimon Ochayon and President of Bar Ilan University, former Science Minister Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkowitz.

Ochayon spearheaded the event towards promoting awareness of discourse that exists between science and Halacha and how Gedolim confront these issues daily and while to some the two are in contradiction to one another, they show the harmonious relationship that exists. Ochayon explains “It is not possible to relate to what happens in the world without a Halachic content”.

Science Minister Peri, who headed the Peri Committee to formulate the new draft law, explained that “the ability to combine Halacha and science is part of the Israeli Jewish experience. There are many who believe there is a gap between these two worlds. I am among those who think there is much more in common in the worlds, the ability to analyze, the depth that exists in both worlds. The nation needs good scientists, trailblazers, and we also need Torah Ilui’im”.

Gafne added “The Midrash teaches us that when the world was created Hashem took the man showing him the world and wanted to take care of it. My explanation to this Midrash is that man was created with infinite ability to develop and evolve scientifically. However we must remember this ability should not harm freedom of the individual. Torah is what provides the moral guidance”.

Rabbi Dr. Hershkowitz added “Scientists do not create the world but are trying to understand it, the creation of the world and what happens in ours. Today everyone understands there is no contradiction between the world of science and Torah”.

Participants heard a number of addresses given by Nobel Laureate in Economics Professor Israel Aumann, Director of the Medical Ethics at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Rabbi Professor Avraham Steinberg, and the Chairman of the Israel Society for Biophysics, Prof. Elisha Haas and Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen Rappaport.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)