There, but for the Grace of God
Apologies for not sending out an email last week. I was profoundly depressed, disturbed, and, quite frankly, friends in Israel's Jewish community.
I love writing these emails. But mixing the pleasure I get from writing them with the unspeakable acts of violence committed against innocent civilians last week was unthinkable. I still cannot reconcile the scenes and warmth I experienced just one month ago, celebrating my bar mitzvah with my family in places like the Old City of Jerusalem or the beaches of Tel Aviv (above) with the murder of Holocaust-surviving grandparents who should be enjoying their golden years, to unspeakable horrors committed against babies; children whose laughter should fill the air at festivals — these acts are nothing short of heinous, the epitome of evil in our world. The emotional toll it takes is immeasurable, and the struggle to articulate the weight of such sorrow was a battle I couldn’t overcome.
In moments like these, when words lose all meaning, I come back to a complex but important concept: that two seemingly contradictory things can be true simultaneously. It’s a nuanced understanding that feels critical right now. One can, and should, forcefully denounce the terrorism that brings such evil while also sending fervent prayers for the safety and well-being of those innocents caught in the crossfire of all faiths and backgrounds.
It’s an emotional tightrope between depths of sorrow and the glimmers of hope for better days. And yes, you can seethe with a wave of righteous anger that such evil exists, that such pain has been inflicted upon those who did nothing to deserve it. Yet, within that same chamber of outrage, there is space to open your heart wider — to recognize our shared humanity, to acknowledge that even in the darkest times, glimmers of compassion, kindness, and unity can shine through. Stories of unity and survival have replaced my timeline lately, bringing some comfort.
But soon, the war will come to Gaza and northern Israel. My heart breaks when I think of the innocent children in Gaza, this young girl below, a soldier I met in the Tel Aviv souk and her Bedouin counterparts in the IDF I who are undoubtedly deployed on the front lines, along with my friend Dov — a father of 5 kids, and the sons and daughters of so many of my friends serving in combat as well. I pray for her safety and all of our friends and family in cavity or in battle.
Acheinu
To our brothers and sisters, the whole of Israel, who are in trouble & captivity, whether they are on the sea or land: May God have mercy upon you and bring you forth from trouble to salvation, from darkness to light, from capture to redemption, now speedily
Appearance
Check out my conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Matt Kirshen where we discussed inflation theory, multiverses, the cosmic microwave background, the formation of our universe, and the possible end of the scientific method.
Genius
“AI may fool some people, but I don’t think it’s conscious. It could still be dangerous, but not because it’s conscious.”
Image
Instead of just one image this week, how about 4 amazing images from Hubble! Check out these breathtaking images captured for Galaxy Week.
Amazing!
Conversation
Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder and I talk about her latest book, Existential Physics, the current state of academia, whether we need to reform our educational system, why Sabine keeps changing her mind about dark matter, what the deal is with quantum computers and much more!
As always with Sabine, it was a great conversation, so tune in!
Watch the full interview here.
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