From the Author
Approach and Format
The Rebbe had a particular approach to matters of Torah and science. This approach is explicitly described in his various letters, often as part of the answer to specific questions. Thus, we proceed in two sections. Section One attempts to fully describe the Rebbe's approach. This will provide the background necessary to understand his specific answers as well as to inform us on how to deal with possible future questions that were not asked of the Rebbe. Section Two is a subject-by-subject exploration of questions relating to the creation of the universe and life on Earth. For each subject, the Rebbe usually provides a discussion of the proven and not yet proven science, the Torah of the matter, and how the two fit together.
The Rebbe wrote dozens of letters on Torah and science. Often, he covered more than one topic per letter, and the same topic in many different letters—elucidating different aspects of the topic, depending on the actual detailed question and individual circumstance. Thus, it is not possible to present a coherent subject-by-subject text that is a direct quote from a single source written by the Rebbe. The compiler, therefore has to merge information from a few letters, and has to add connective words (not bolded) to the exact quotes from the Rebbe (shown in bold). Every attempt is made to stay true to the Rebbe's words. Any words in square brackets in the bolded text are added by the compiler for context or translation purposes. Information is shown in a different font to distinguish it from the Rebbe's original material.
The Rebbe corresponded mostly with people who were very advanced in their knowledge and practice of science and sometimes well versed in Torah. The text provides background and explanations to aid in comprehending the scientific and Torah aspects of the answers, so readers require only basic Torah and science knowledge to appreciate the depth of the Rebbe's answers. This is also done in a different font to distinguish it from the Rebbe's original material.
Finally, the Rebbe's letters were written about 50 years ago, so some of the text shown in a different font also includes updates to the scientific context where such updates help with understanding the Rebbe's answers.
From the Inside Flap
About the Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory (1902-1994), the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, is considered to have been the most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times. To hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of sympathizers and admirers around the world, he was — and still is, despite his passing — "the Rebbe," undoubtedly the one individual, more than any other, singularly responsible for stirring the conscience and spiritual awakening of world Jewry.
Born in the Ukrainian-Russian town of Nikolaev in 1902, the Rebbe spent his childhood in pogrom-ridden Czarist Russia, the 20's battling the Stalinist attempt to eradicate Jewish life in the Soviet Empire, the 30's in Berlin and Paris. In 1941 he escaped Nazi-occupied Europe and settled in New York, where for the next 50 years he transformed the very fabric of Jewish life in every corner of the globe.
The Rebbe studied science at the university level from 1928-1932 in Berlin, and from 1934-1938 in Paris, and in his words "I have tried to follow scientific developments in certain areas ever since".
