I am seeking collaborators and informants for a study of scientific and technological ideas in the thought and writing of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt''l (known as Reb Zalman), the founder of Jewish Renewal.
My vision is that the project will result in a book, with numerous articles and presentations along the way. I currently have no funding for this project, but I am looking at opportunities to apply for funding.
Specifically, I am interested in how Reb Zalman used the concepts of paradigm shift (which originated in the work of Thomas Kuhn, in the history of science) and backward compatibility (which seems to have originated in the video game industry in the 1980s, quickly spreading to the computing industry more generally, though it may be earlier). The original motivation, apart from simply studying how a fascinating man made use of interesting, important ideas, is to understand how Jewish Renewal communities use these concepts today in their communal decision-making.
If any of the following descriptions apply to you, I would be delighted to hear from you!
You knew Reb Zalman personally and talked with him at some point about the concepts of paradigm shift and/or backward compatibility
You are or have been a member of a Jewish Renewal community that has explicitly used the concepts of paradigm shift and/or backward compatibility to work through a communal decision
You work in science and technology studies (STS) or a related area and you have studied the early public reception and use of the concepts of paradigm shift and/or backward compatibility (or you are interested in doing so)
You have experience successfully applying for funding for research that you think might be applicable to this project
I would also be delighted to hear from graduate students in the following areas who are looking for thesis projects and would be interested in collaborating on part of this project with me:
Jewish studies, especially neo-Hasidism and Kabbalah (20th century)
history of science (20th century)
history of science and religion (20th century)
sociology of religion (Judaism and/or new religious movements)
I am a member of the 2024 cohort of the Teshuva-Writing Collective at SVARA Yeshiva. My current halakhic (Jewish legal) interests involve decision-making by Jews who are considering parenthood. I am also interested in halakha by and for queer and trans Jews more generally. Methodologically/hashkafically, I am interested in the interaction between halakha and Musar, and in the uses of history, sociology, and academic philosophy in contemporary halakhic reasoning.
I am also (see above!) seeking collaborators for a study of scientific and technological ideas in the thought and writing of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, zt''l (known as Reb Zalman). If you are interested, feel free to get in touch! (My contact info is on the "Home" tab on this webpage.)
I taught two short courses at Or Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver:
Doing halakha together, March 2025
Mathematics and Jewish spirituality, February 2024
Until my move to Montréal in April of this year (2025) I was a fairly regular participant and teacher in the weekly parsha study at Or Shalom and at the monthly Queer Torah Study at Temple Sholom, both in Vancouver.
Friday night blessings for a nonbinary child, 5784 (2024)
Shabbat Mevarchim Rosh Chodesh Elul 5784, given at Or Shalom, 2024
Shabbat Eikev/Pride Shabbat 5783, given at Temple Sholom, 2023
Shabbat Toldot 5782, given at Or Shalom, 2022
Drashing fast and slow (on cognitive benefits to the use of gematria)
Response to participant question about inaccuracy of rabbinic math
Reflections on a participant comment about a particular gematria
A Musar prayer for difficult learning, 2024
A Musar prayer for teaching, 2024
A "hearing" or translation of the Shema, 2022 or so, drawing extensively on commentaries