Science – Rabbi Jon 's Website and Blog

October 31, 2025

One More Course This Term

My last “first” college entry of this semester – Science A-22: Chance, Necessity, and Order. This was a philosophy of science class as well as a conceptual introduction to 20th century physics. So not the typical “Physics for Poets” class, with non- or low-math versions of basic topics in physics. In that sense, different from… Continue reading

College, Education, Science, Young Jewish Adult, Youth

December 4, 2024

College: Piaget

Yes, I literally just wrote about the prior notes and theory minutes ago! I've always loved Piaget, even after all the critiques of the narrowness of his focus and of his research base. I rely on him all the time. Looking at the notes, I see immediately two things. One that I forgot, which is… Continue reading

College, Education, Psychology, Science, Young Jewish Adult, Youth

December 4, 2024

College: Organismic-Developmental Theory

I guess I'll say it was inevitable I'd fall behind but I am determined to catch up well before the "semester" ends. Fortunately, when I was in college reading period was after winter break… Heinz Werner's organismic-developmental theory seems like something I used to understand and now can't quite piece together. I'm pretty sure it… Continue reading

College, Psychology, Science, Young Jewish Adult, Youth

October 4, 2023

Sukkot, Science and Religion

My extended D'var Torah on this topic at Sinai and Synapses! Continue reading

Calendar, Environment, High Holidays, History, Holidays, Prayer, Ritual, Science, Spirituality, Sukkot, Yamim Noraim

December 10, 2020

Thinking Out Loud — COVID Curfews

I'd like to be using my blog more to model and invite some ethical deliberation more of the time. This is something I dashed off to post on Facebook the other night. Particular references are to my locale of Nashua, NH, but it's relevant for elsewhere. Wondering about the curfew debate. This isn’t an argument in favor… Continue reading

Bioethics, Coronavirus, Current Affairs, Ethics, Freedom, Health Care, Leadership, Patience, Science, Taking Sides, USA

January 28, 2014

Learning from the Tragedy of Marlise Munoz z”l

Last weekend the tragedy of the Munoz family in Texas came to an end. Marlise was a woman, a wife and mother, who was pregnant when she collapsed at home last November 28 and was taken to the hospital. She was declared dead at the hospital on the basis of a standard known as “brain… Continue reading

Current Affairs, Ethics, Health Care, Science, Soul

September 29, 2010

Parashat Bereshit: Why Stephen Hawking Doesn’t Rock My World

I recently heard a radio program about Stephen Hawking's new book, The Grand Design. Written together with physicist Leonard Mlodinow, the book accounts for why things in our universe are so beautiful ordered. Why the laws and conditions of our universe are suited for the development of life and human life. Everything can be explained… Continue reading

Bereshit, Parashat Hashavua, Science

October 1, 2009

Sukkot, Water, and One-ness

From Yom Kippur, when we put aside our material existence by fasting and spending so many hours in prayer, we move to Sukkot. Sukkot is by contrast a very earthy, material holiday. The Sukkah booth itself, obviously, and the plant material that makes up its roof. The Arba'ah Minim, Four Species as well — the… Continue reading

Environment, Holidays, Science, Spirituality, Sukkot