What do you think?
Rate this book
From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple: Concepts in Kabbalah and the Wisdom of Hassidut through the Lens of Modern Physics
Our world's eternal questions answered by the Kabbalah, modern physics and the astonishing resemblance between them.
During the 1920s, the world was changed forever when a new theory in physics — quantum theory — was developed. To this very day, this theory enables us to predict the behavior of physical bodies and explains many natural phenomena.
Decades later, Dr. Shemer Keydar embarked on the study of physics and found an amazing parallel between the theories he was learning and the principles of Kabbala and Hasidism. Principles such as the creation of the world from nothing, the unity found in nature, the development of mankind, and the power of the human intellect are all presented and illustrated through the light of quantum physics and Kabbalah.
During the 1920s, the world was changed forever when a new theory in physics — quantum theory — was developed. To this very day, this theory enables us to predict the behavior of physical bodies and explains many natural phenomena.
Decades later, Dr. Shemer Keydar embarked on the study of physics and found an amazing parallel between the theories he was learning and the principles of Kabbala and Hasidism. Principles such as the creation of the world from nothing, the unity found in nature, the development of mankind, and the power of the human intellect are all presented and illustrated through the light of quantum physics and Kabbalah.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2020
68 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Shemer Keydar
1 bookDr. Shemer (Shmariahu) Keydar, a highly respected researcher and the author of numerous scientific papers, has developed his interest in the relationship between Judaism and modern physics over the last two decades, and now invites you to join him on this special journey.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2020
Exploring concepts in Kabbalah and the wisdom of Hassidut via the lens of modern physics...
Quantum theory is science's most significant, thrilling, demanding and even mystifying domains. It is considerably more than just strange. It is, without reservation, the most awe-inspiring hypothesis in the world today. The supposition is telling us that we may well be deeply incorrect in our reasoning concerning what reality truly is. Quantum theory gradually evolved into a very successful scientific tool capable of achieving precise measurements, while at the same time presenting us with conceptual conundrums.
Israeli author Keydar Shemer explores concepts in Kabbalah and the wisdom of Hassidut via the lens of modern physics in his fascinating book, From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple. His credentials for writing on such topics leaves no doubt as he ‘graduated from Tel Aviv University and from Bar Ilan University with a B.Sc. in physics and graduated from Tel-Aviv University with an M.Sc. in Geophysics. He earned his doctorate in geophysics at Tel Aviv University. Since 1984, he has worked for the Geophysical Institute of Israel as a senior researcher. He has written around 100 publications in professional journals and at international conferences. Over the last two decades he has developed a keen interest in the relationship between Judaism and modern physics.’
Anything that pricks up my ears and gets my tail wagging always makes for an interesting read. Admittedly, I was at a disadvantage reading this book, perhaps to the extent of not understanding key points. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating and thought-provoking book that’s sure to pique the interest of many. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Quantum theory is science's most significant, thrilling, demanding and even mystifying domains. It is considerably more than just strange. It is, without reservation, the most awe-inspiring hypothesis in the world today. The supposition is telling us that we may well be deeply incorrect in our reasoning concerning what reality truly is. Quantum theory gradually evolved into a very successful scientific tool capable of achieving precise measurements, while at the same time presenting us with conceptual conundrums.
Israeli author Keydar Shemer explores concepts in Kabbalah and the wisdom of Hassidut via the lens of modern physics in his fascinating book, From Adam's Apple to Newton's Apple. His credentials for writing on such topics leaves no doubt as he ‘graduated from Tel Aviv University and from Bar Ilan University with a B.Sc. in physics and graduated from Tel-Aviv University with an M.Sc. in Geophysics. He earned his doctorate in geophysics at Tel Aviv University. Since 1984, he has worked for the Geophysical Institute of Israel as a senior researcher. He has written around 100 publications in professional journals and at international conferences. Over the last two decades he has developed a keen interest in the relationship between Judaism and modern physics.’
Anything that pricks up my ears and gets my tail wagging always makes for an interesting read. Admittedly, I was at a disadvantage reading this book, perhaps to the extent of not understanding key points. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating and thought-provoking book that’s sure to pique the interest of many. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
October 22, 2020
‘The old shall be renewed, and the new shall be sanctified’
Israeli author Shemer Keydar, PhD earned his degrees in physics from Tel Aviv University and Bar Ilan University, continuing his studies in geophysics and earning his M.Sc and PhD from Tel Aviv University. He works for the Geophysical Institute of Israel as a senior researcher, publishing numerous articles in professional journals. More recently Dr. Keydar has focused on the relationship between Judaism and modern physics, the similarity between interpretations of quantum theory and the basis of Kabbalah, and shares his enthusiasm for this comparative work in this, his first published book. The book is translated from the Hebrew by Moshe Devere.
Discussions and treatises and books and lectures about Quantum Physics – the quantum theory that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level – have become central to our approach to understanding the universe, and life. Since the inception of the quantum theory a hundred years ago, science has changed dramatically, but so has our philosophy and our spiritual views of our existence.
Few authors have been able to open a fresh vantage of the influence of quantum physics on or perception of being as well as Dr. Keydar in this erudite and illuminating book in which he explains the parallel between quantum theory and the principles of Kabbala and Hasidism, ‘principles such as the creation of the world from nothing, the unity found in nature, the development of mankind, and the power of the human intellect as presented and illustrated through the light of quantum physics and Kabbalah.’
A significant reason this book is so very successful in sharing the insights that the author has gathered over the years is his warmth of communicating in language that is both accessible and inspiring, forgoing the usual trend of authors of scientific theories. Following his Preface, he begins this path to enlightenment with the following: ‘Why is there ‘something’ rather than ‘nothing?’ This is one of the incisive metaphysical questions that has been asked through the ages: why did God see fit to create the world? An adage in the Midrash attempts to answer the question: “The Holy One, blessed be He, craved to have a dwelling below.” The Holy One had the free will to create or not to create the universe, so why did He choose to create it? Hassidut answers that regarding ta’ava, desire, one does not ask questions. So what is nothingness? It is customary to think that nothingness is the opposite of existence. In this article, I am proposing a different view of nothingness – not as a negation of existence but as another type of existence…’ With this well-considered desire to share his thoughts, Dr. Keydar escorts us on a memorable and enlightening journey that weds science and spirituality. This is a book that must be experienced slowly, for there is so much to absorb. It is an illuminating path to richer understanding of life.
Israeli author Shemer Keydar, PhD earned his degrees in physics from Tel Aviv University and Bar Ilan University, continuing his studies in geophysics and earning his M.Sc and PhD from Tel Aviv University. He works for the Geophysical Institute of Israel as a senior researcher, publishing numerous articles in professional journals. More recently Dr. Keydar has focused on the relationship between Judaism and modern physics, the similarity between interpretations of quantum theory and the basis of Kabbalah, and shares his enthusiasm for this comparative work in this, his first published book. The book is translated from the Hebrew by Moshe Devere.
Discussions and treatises and books and lectures about Quantum Physics – the quantum theory that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level – have become central to our approach to understanding the universe, and life. Since the inception of the quantum theory a hundred years ago, science has changed dramatically, but so has our philosophy and our spiritual views of our existence.
Few authors have been able to open a fresh vantage of the influence of quantum physics on or perception of being as well as Dr. Keydar in this erudite and illuminating book in which he explains the parallel between quantum theory and the principles of Kabbala and Hasidism, ‘principles such as the creation of the world from nothing, the unity found in nature, the development of mankind, and the power of the human intellect as presented and illustrated through the light of quantum physics and Kabbalah.’
A significant reason this book is so very successful in sharing the insights that the author has gathered over the years is his warmth of communicating in language that is both accessible and inspiring, forgoing the usual trend of authors of scientific theories. Following his Preface, he begins this path to enlightenment with the following: ‘Why is there ‘something’ rather than ‘nothing?’ This is one of the incisive metaphysical questions that has been asked through the ages: why did God see fit to create the world? An adage in the Midrash attempts to answer the question: “The Holy One, blessed be He, craved to have a dwelling below.” The Holy One had the free will to create or not to create the universe, so why did He choose to create it? Hassidut answers that regarding ta’ava, desire, one does not ask questions. So what is nothingness? It is customary to think that nothingness is the opposite of existence. In this article, I am proposing a different view of nothingness – not as a negation of existence but as another type of existence…’ With this well-considered desire to share his thoughts, Dr. Keydar escorts us on a memorable and enlightening journey that weds science and spirituality. This is a book that must be experienced slowly, for there is so much to absorb. It is an illuminating path to richer understanding of life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews