[net.religion.jewish] Observations: Astronauts, Reagan, Pioneering, Judaism, the Usual

abeles@mhuxm.UUCP (J. Abeles (Bellcore, Murray Hill, NJ)) (02/07/86)

I think it is significant to note that the first Jewish astronaut,
Dr. Judith Resnick, perished in the Challenger disaster.  Following
the disaster last week, President Reagan told the country that
manned space exploration is in the pioneering spirit of the
United States, and that the risks which led to the deaths of
the seven astronauts were unavoidable risks associated with the
efforts of Americans to make progress against nature.  What would
the Jewish position on this be, I found myself wondering?  I know
that I personally (as a scientist) admire exploration, but am I
at odds with the opinions of our religious leadership in this area?

My impression is that the more rigid among our coreligionists
probably would respond that space exploration is not specifically
forbidden, but if it entails enormous risks then it is forbidden
indeed based on the principle of preserving one's life.  (On this
subject smoking, and overeating as often associated with the
Sabbath in Jewish homes, ought also to be considered anti-halacha.)
Or, they might respond in another vein touched upon by E. Teitz
in this newgroup when writing about the requirements for praying
in a spaceship in orbit around the earth.  When faced with the
reality that the speed of a spaceship in a low orbit would
require virtually constant speed-praying, he responded that
space travel really wasn't something a Jewish person ought
to be doing.  I would infer that since G-d provides for his 
people (!?), it is wrong to do anything except fulfilling 
the mitzvot (which don't include making scientific progress
at least according to many of the medieval thinkers to which 
the orthopractic appeal for vindication).

Notwithstanding, I wish to relate another point
of view which was expressed by a well-known high-energy
experimental physicist, who later won a Nobel prize, when
testifying in front of a Senate committee during the early
1960's.  When asked why the taxpayers should support the
expensive scientific project which comprised his research
apparatus, especially if there would never be any practical
benefit to the population at large, he replied in this way:
It is true that in the United States there is a great society
in which government endeavors to provide for the well-being
of the poor, and for our freedom and strength against foreign
powers, but if this is all we do, what good are we?  Projects
such as high-energy physics experiments yield scientific 
products which represent permanent contributions we make towards 
the knowledge of mankind.  -- I certainly would think that space
exploration represents another such challenge which can only
be met by a tremendous effort but with noble results which
are the product of mankinds efforts (and not specifically
the efforts of G-d).

Evidently, this sentiment is similar to that expressed by
Reagan when he lauded the goals of the manned space program.
In the days which followed, a rumbling debate took place
among Americans:  Is manned space flight really necessary?
The conclusion was that even if it isn't, it is the meeting
of challenges like this that makes life worth it, and makes
our free society worth it.

But what about Jewish values?  How do they fit in with the
concept of "pioneering spirit?"

----------

On another topic:

One of the Orthodox participants in net.religion.jewish, wrote
regarding Conservative and Reform practices:

>Sorry, that is *not* what it means to be Jewish, not where I came from,
>not where my father and mother came from, not where their parents came from,
>... , and that is not the way that it was introduced to our patriarchs and
>matriarchs, and not how it was given to our ancestors at Sinai. The heritage
>we received at Sinai was very different from that which you describe. What you
>describe is the result of a distortion, concocted by those who wished to 
>change the law to accomodate their own lifestyles.

Unless I am very much mistaken, the heritage introduced to our ancestors
at Mount Sinai would be very different from the modern version of
Judaism practiced by the Orthopractic sects of Judaism as well.  This
is simply because much halacha was decided later, and it is compounded
by that fact that society and technology (which influenced society)
changed so much that everyone's way of life changed enormously during
the thousands of years since Sinai.  Since Judaism is a total way of
life, the fact that society has changed so much also means that Judaism
has changed tremendously.  (What about the vagaries of history that
have modern Chassidim wearing the clothes not of Sinai but of 17th
century Polish nobility???)

Orthodoxy has no more claim to be the same as Judaism introduced at
Sinai than Conservativism or Reform.  For that matter (since Orthodoxy
is not the same as Judaism introduced at Sinai) it has no more claim
to this than the Mormons or the Buddhists, etc., etc., etc.

--J. Abeles