Torah For Today: Space tourism
Rabbi Ariel Abel looks at a topical issue and delves into the Jewish texts for a response
Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool
Richard Branson – and now Jeff Bezos – recently flew to the edge of space, taking us all one step closer to the advent of commercial flights beyond earth’s orbit. What does the Torah say about space tourism?
“The heavens are the almighty’s heavens, but the earth He gave to humankind.”
This verse from Psalms seems to encourage us to keep out of outer space. We are encouraged by Isaiah to “lift up our eyes and see who created all these” heavenly bodies, and our literature is filled with reference to astronomy and even astrology.
But actually getting up there? Is the psalmist saying: Stay away?
The Gerrer Rebbe in the 1960s went to the extent of denying that man could ever get to the moon, owing to this verse; a position he reversed once the moon landing was achieved and watched by audiences in the millions.
Our ability to travel to space is now undeniable, but should it be harnessed for commercial use?
In one of his visions, Ezekiel the prophet was lifted by his sidelocks and whisked through the skies. According to the prophet he night-travelled to Jerusalem, flying “between heaven and earth” making for a speedy journey.
In another vision, he described extraterrestrial travel machines running on hashmal – electricity. Ezekiel’s images then fictive to most is our reality nowadays.
Just like Ezekiel, we can be whisked rapidly to the Biblical “four corners” of the world. If we can shorten travel time, and perhaps even reduce the amount of pollution expelled, we may find that Israel dubs its first heavenly transatlantic sub-space vehicle “Ezekiel’s chariot”, or even Elijah’s!
The prospects of uniting split families and scattered communities; bringing Israel and the diaspora closer together; and touring the exosphere to better observe the handiwork of creation all seem a lot closer to a Torah ideal than to a Torah objection of any kind.
Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
