Rabbi Professor Yaakov Friedman is a Lubavitcher Chassid from Bayit Vegan in Yerushalayim. He is a leading scientist in Eretz Yisroel in the field of mathematics and physics, and is a trailblazer for whom the most advanced testing facility in the world is available whenever he wants, for his experiments. Today he is a top lecturer at Machon Lev where he combines mathematics, physics, and Likkutei Torah in his classes. * He told Beis Moshiach about the path that was paved for him since he was a child in Munkatch and then about attending the University of Moscow, about his attempts to preserve his Judaism under difficult circumstances, and about the nonstop encouragement he received from the Rebbe throughout the years in his scientific work, to the point that he was told that he is needed on the staff of Moshiach. * Part 2
Photographs by Zohar RevesThe Rebbe often spoke about one of the preparations for Geula being discovering the unity of G-d within nature. I began looking for the connections between the mathematical model I had developed in the context of physics and arrived at the thought that it is possible to unite various subjects within physics. The biggest difficulty is in finding integrative formulas between the big things, the macro (the universe, the constellations and stars etc.) and the small things, the micro (atoms, etc.).
This was actually one of Einstein’s dreams, to find a unifying theory, but although he searched for it intensely, he did not find it. Einstein’s theory collided with the quantum theory which describes the micro world.
At a certain point I realized that it is not possible that the universe that Hashem created contains contradictory wisdom, for the world is the same creation made by Hashem and there must be harmony within it. So a mathematical model needs to be built which will explain this unifying theory, both the macro and the micro, for “You made it all with wisdom.” It does not say, “You made it all with wisdoms” in the plural. There is one G-dly wisdom which operates systematically on all levels, from the big to the small.
Obviously, a theory is not sufficient and we need to do scientific experiments to confirm that the world does indeed operate according to this theory. At first I did experiments in Eretz Yisroel with other scientists at Hebrew University, Ben Gurion University and the Nuclear Research Center, but in the end I realized that Israel does not have the requisite tools.
In Europe there are particle accelerators, one in Hamburg, Germany, where they have the best accelerator in the world, and one in Grenoble, France. A particle accelerator is a machine that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to nearly light speed. Then they radiate a powerful light which enables various experiments to be done.
Boruch Hashem, the scientific thesis that I presented was enthusiastically received, and I was accepted to the research facility where few are accepted. In order to discover the changes I was looking for, I had to attain a very high level of accuracy to a billionth of a billion, at least. It wasn’t easy, for after I received the results, I suddenly discovered that there is another interfering factor and a way had to be found to neutralize it. When I went further, once again I discovered another source of interference. Just like in spirituality where there is a mixture of good and bad, so too in the physical world there is a mixture of forces.
I did three experiments, but sad to say, each time I broke new ground, I discovered another dead end.
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When we spoke about this connection between science and Chassidus, Professor Friedman wanted to clarify the difference between scientific theses and the Torah perspective on the world of science:
“All scientists seek to understand how the universe came to be, but a religious Jew who knows that Hashem created the world during the Six Days of Creation, is not involved with that; his research is to understand, what do we learn from Creation? Science does not want to accept the fact that Hashem created the world because science only deals with the laws of nature that are familiar to us and a G-dly creation is not within the laws of nature. Very often other scientists and I take the same facts but apply them differently to different areas of study.”
EXPERIMENTS IN G-D’S LABORATORY
Professor Friedman sanctifies G-d’s name in everything he does, including among non-Jews. When he went to Hamburg to do experiments on the particle accelerator, people were quite surprised by his yarmulke and tzitzis, but they soon recovered. They knew that he hadn’t come thanks to his appearance but thanks to his scientific achievements, and they treated him with respect.
The experiments with the particle accelerator also entailed challenges. It is a machine which only a few people in the world are allowed to use for experimentation, and this is only after passing many hurdles.
“They welcomed me graciously but they require you to work there seven days a week, which of course I couldn’t do. This was a nisayon which really wasn’t easy.”
As I sat there comfortably with Professor Friedman in his living room, he pointed and said, “Here, in this room, I met with a group of German scientists on the topic of technology. The Germans are very good in that field.”
He was quiet and spent some time thinking. “My father went through the Nazi camps and my mother found it hard to accept that I went to Germany, but it turned out that my work was mainly with German scientists who are very good in the field I work in.
“I brought them here to break the stereotype. Business or scientific relationships are usually fostered over a restaurant meal, but for reasons of kashrus, I never met there. I brought them here to show them what a Jewish home looks like, what a Jewish bookcase looks like. I explained to them the logic behind a life of Torah and mitzvos. They were amazed by the interesting life of a religious person. One of them told me afterward that all his relatives had been Nazis, even after the war, but now he sees that what they told him about Jews was not true.”
What was for you the high point in your scientific work?
To date, I have published hundreds of novel discoveries in the world of science. I can tell you that each time I discover another dimension that was previously unknown, I am infused with excitement. There are times that I think that I have uncovered the whole picture and suddenly I realize that I have hit another roadblock, and now the new challenge is to break through that. Over time, one learns to take things with the proper perspective.
Beyond the feelings, what would you say is your greatest achievement to this point?
I think that my greatest achievement was being able to experiment at the particle accelerator. In order to be able to do so, you need to go through a gauntlet of scientific committees who closely examine the experiment you want to conduct. Boruch Hashem, the research that I am doing passed all the committees. When I submitted my first request, I received the highest mark that a request every received. The head of the facility himself was very enthusiastic about the project for he realized that if the experiment was successful, it would bring a whole new level of international acclaim to his facility.
I conducted three experiments there but now I am trying a new approach, to attain results through Hashem’s own laboratory, through astronomy. It is possible that after I develop some solid theories I will go back to conducting experiments with the particle accelerator in order to check the results. I can tell you that with the Rebbe’s bracha I see Hashem’s providence guiding me (see sidebar). I was granted open access to the facility, which is quite rare.
DELVING INTO THE DEPTHS OF SCIENTIFIC ISSUES WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CHASSID
Professor Friedman lectured at the University of California for eight years. He would wear his yarmulke and have his tzitzis out. He remembers the first time that he walked into class looking like a yeshiva student.
“The first morning I walked into class and faced about two hundred students. They were not used to teachers looking as I did. I was also relatively young as a professor. There was an uproar. I stood in my place and waited for silence. After many minutes passed, I raised my hand and there was silence. I said, ‘I hope you finished your discussion about the lecturer. Now I want to begin teaching but since I am polite, I try not to speak when someone else is speaking.’ They got the hint. They treated me with respect. Many of them came over to me to ask what the kippa and tzitzis are about.”
Over the years, he occasionally received offers for desirable and permanent positions. He was also very admired by the local Jewish community and they asked him to stay, but some Jews within the university staff did not like the lecturer who wasn’t ashamed by his overt Jewish appearance.
At a certain point he received an offer for a position at Machon Lev in Yerushalayim. He asked the Rebbe about it and the answer was, “Move on to Yerushalayim in a permanent move.”
In 5747 the Friedman family returned to Eretz Yisroel and R’ Friedman went to work at Machon Lev, a college which combines Torah study and science and has an excellent reputation.
R’ Friedman’s Chassidic appearance and his low-key, smiling demeanor do not belie the fact that he is one of the most highly esteemed professors and is head of the Research Authority. Although he is a professor, a Chassid remains a Chassid, and within the framework of his position he also gives shiurim in Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah of the Alter Rebbe. He also supports the Chassidus classes given there by R’ Tzirkis. About twenty students from the Machon have become Chabad Chassidim over the years, under R’ Friedman’s direct or indirect influence. The shiurim take place in the beis midrash, and are not part of the official college curriculum. “This shiur gives me my spiritual chayus.”
This is precisely the idea of the fusion of Torah, Chassidus, and science, not just the theoretical and academic aspects but the practical aspect. Professor Friedman, whose life has been a combination of Chassidus and science, with the Rebbe’s guidance, knows how to do it:
“I think that if someone’s shlichus in life is in science, he needs to use that in order to make that part of the world as it ought to be. There aren’t many Chassidim in the scientific niche, but as the Rebbe told me, this area also needs to be made ready for the Geula. I have no doubt that if I continue with my research it will be a shortcut to understanding G-d’s unity in the world.
“If I had not received the Rebbe’s encouragement, and if I wasn’t aware that this too belongs to Hashem and it needs to be revealed, I would have left the world of science a long time ago. But I know that my mission is here and if I don’t do it, it is hard to see who would do it right now. I feel a responsibility since the Rebbe put me here. The Rebbe provides the kochos with which to succeed and if I leave the battle that would be a betrayal of my role. The mission is to carry on.”
DIVINE PROVIDENCE ON A BUS
R’ Friedman has a wonderful story about divine providence:
Six years ago there was a big convention in Mexico City on the topic of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. It was a convention of scientists that was attended by people from around the world. Many of them came to present their new ideas on the Theory of Relativity as it relates to cosmology.
At the time I had started thinking in a new direction about how to unite physics with astronomy and I thought of presenting my theory there, even though this was rather ambitious, especially when I was new to the field. There were thousands of participants, all very advanced. When I arrived, I noticed that they had broken up into groups and I was the only one who was alone. In the convention halls they were all grouped in clusters and at the lectures it was impossible to talk or interrupt. The same was true at the hotels. The only possible place I could present my ideas was on the bus between the hotel and the convention site. I tried here and there to join various groups of experts but I am not the type to be pushy and to tell you the truth, my trip seemed to be a waste. I nearly despaired.
My goal was to reach leading figures in the field, but there was no way of approaching them.
It was a Thursday and I davened in the morning at the Chabad House, a longer davening than usual. I came a little late to the first lecture which was delivered by someone named Weiss. I assumed from his name that he was Jewish. He was the head of the LIGO labs, a very exclusive project, and had at least a thousand employees working under him. There were thousands of scientists attending the lecture. I couldn’t even see him except on the screens. I managed to hear the end of his talk in which he spoke about how the results of the LIGO project won’t be known in our generation; only the next generation will get to see it. “But we are preparing the tools for the next generation so they can measure the results of what we are working on today,” he said.
I wanted to approach him and comment on his talk, but it wasn’t possible. Hundreds of people surrounded him after the lecture, and they all wanted to talk to him or at least shake his hand.
Later in the day I saw an announcement that said that at night there would be a reception for a scientist named Smoot, for his winning of the Nobel Prize. The reception was going to take place in a local theater and all were invited. During the event, said the announcement, Mr. Smoot would lecture on the subject for which he had earned the prize. I thought this might be an opportunity to meet someone of importance.
That day was beautiful but then suddenly, it began to pour, which was most unusual. I boarded a bus that took people to the reception. I looked around the bus and saw that it was full except for one empty seat. I sat down and turned to the person sitting next to me to shake his hand and realized, he was Mr. Weiss, head of the LIGO project who spoke in the morning.
Since the trip was a short one, I immediately raised the topics I wanted to present to the leadership at the convention. He was willing to listen for a few minutes to what I had to say. He listened attentively and affirmed that I had good ideas. I asked whether he saw any obstacles that I hadn’t noticed, especially since I was new to the field, but he said, “Whatever you’ve presented fits nicely with my vision.” He added, “What you want to change in Einstein’s teachings is something I too did not understand until now, and I honestly think that your approach seems more reasonable.”
Because of the sudden, strong rain, there was traffic on the road and the bus was at a standstill. This enabled me to talk with him some more. I utilized the extra time to tell him that I wanted to conduct an experiment to test some hypotheses. He pointed out several things and suggested some changes and affirmed that I was on the right track but warned me, “You are entering into an experiment and think X, but suddenly, you will discover that it’s something else entirely. I myself, whenever I’ve done experiments, had surprises. You need to prepare for the long term. Furthermore, even if you get the results you hoped for, the scientific community won’t believe you, but when you obtain genuine results, come to me and I will connect you with the right people and they will test your experiments, and if they verify them, then your research will be accepted in the scientific world as solid.”
As we spoke, the bus was still stuck in traffic. We started to talk about Eretz Yisroel, about Judaism, and then, as it turned dark outside, he said in distress, “I don’t know why I’m going. It’s a reception in honor of Mr. Smoot. He worked for me on the project and I was the head of it. We once did a certain experiment and the results were revolutionary, but since they were not precise to the nth degree, I wanted to redo the experiment but he did not wait. He ran to the media and announced the discovery that, supposedly, he made. Since the media knew him, he got the Nobel Prize for it when I should have gotten it. So why am I going altogether? I will sit in the front row and he will look at me and how will he feel when he knows I am the one who really deserves the prize?”
I wanted to tell him – you know why you are going to the reception? Because, by divine providence, you needed to meet with me and hear some things from me…