In our ongoing series exploring the profound intersections of Hebrew, chemistry, and the Torah, we’ve journeyed from the linguistic and conceptual links between “Adam” and “atom.” The concept of a Positive Core is central to many of these discussions. The idea of a Positive Core offers a unique perspective that enriches our understanding of these connections. As we delve deeper, the focus on a Positive Core within these connections becomes increasingly significant. We have also worked to reclaim history through biblical truth rather than flawed scientific timelines.
Now, in this third installment, we delve into the atom’s inner structure as a metaphor for spiritual life. Drawing from Torah teachings on chemistry, we uncover how the atom—predominantly positive at its core with minimal neutral matter—mirrors the divine essence within each of us.
This perspective, illuminated by sages and scholars, reinforces how science, when viewed through Hashem’s word, reveals eternal truths. It does so rather than contradicting them. As the nation of Israel continues to lead in technological innovations inspired by Torah, this atomic model has significance. It reminds us to guard our positive nucleus against swirling negativity while embodying our role as a light to the nations.
The Atom’s Anatomy: A Torah Lens on Matter
The atom, as modern chemistry describes, consists of three primary particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons are neutral, and electrons carry a negative charge. Yet, the distribution is far from equal. The nucleus, housing protons and neutrons, contains nearly all the atom’s mass—over 99.9%. Meanwhile, electrons contribute negligibly, being about 1,836 times lighter than a proton. This means the atom is “mostly positive” in its defining core. Neutral matter (neutrons) adds stability but not identity, and negative elements (electrons) exert influence from afar without altering the essence.
This structure isn’t a mere coincidence; it echoes the Torah’s creation narrative in Bereishit, where order emerges from tohu vavohu (formless void). Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, in his explorations of Hebrew letters and elements, ties this to the divine blueprint. Specifically, the positive protons symbolize the unifying force of Aleph (א), the first letter representing Hashem’s oneness. It is much like hydrogen’s single proton forms the basis of cosmic light. Dr. Gerald Schroeder further aligns this with relativity, noting that the universe’s expansion from a dense, positive-energy state parallels the nucleus’s compacted mass.
In the podcast “Torah Chemistry,” the speaker elaborates at the 12-15 minute mark. The atom’s identity hinges solely on its protons, which carry the positive charge. Changing the number of neutrons yields isotopes (same element, different mass). Also, electrons swap in reactions to form ions, but the core remains unchanged. This positivity defines the element: hydrogen is one proton, helium is two, and so on. Neutrons, being neutral, add weight but not character, comprising a small portion of the nucleus’s role. Electrons, negative and massless in comparison, swirl distantly, their charge equal but opposite to protons. Yet, they are insignificant in substance.
Spiritual Parallels: Adam’s Neshama as the Positive Nucleus
Just as the atom’s nucleus is its unyielding, positive heart, so too is the neshama—the divine soul—in HaAdam (הָאָדָם). The Torah teaches that Adam was formed from adamah (earth) and infused with a neshama (Genesis 2:7). This made him the first true human with moral agency. This soul, pure and positive, mirrors the proton’s role: it defines our identity amidst life’s chaos. Negative influences—doubts, temptations, external pressures—act like electrons, orbiting but lacking mass to impact our core if we maintain boundaries.
The podcast draws this analogy vividly: “Our identity is entirely in our nucleus… It’s all positivity. It’s all divine. It’s all positive and all the negative stuff it’s all just swirling around us, and it’s so tiny that it’s practically insignificant.” This resonates with Tehillim (Psalms) 103:14, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust,” yet elevated by the soul’s spark. In Kabbalah, as expounded by Rabbi Ginsburgh, the 22 Hebrew letters channel creative energies. Positive forces (such as Chesed, kindness) dominate the soul’s structure, with neutral aspects providing balance. Negative forces (such as Gevurah, severity) serve as tests, not definers.
Israel’s innovations exemplify this: from quantum computing startups harnessing atomic properties to medical tech inspired by molecular stability. Torah study fosters a positive core that repels negativity. Consider Waze or Mobileye—tools born from analytical minds trained in Gemara’s logic. They turn potential chaos into ordered progress.
Charting the Atom’s Composition: Visualizing Positivity
To illustrate, let’s examine a simplified chart of atomic components, drawing from standard chemistry and Torah insights:
| Particle | Charge | Mass (Relative) | Torah Parallel | Role in Identity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton | Positive | ~1 | Neshama (Soul) | Defines element; core positivity, like divine spark in Adam. |
| Neutron | Neutral | ~1 | Stabilizing forces (e.g., Mitzvot) | Adds mass/stability; minimal but essential, not altering essence. |
| Electron | Negative | ~1/1836 | Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination) | Orbits distantly; influences reactions but negligible mass, kept at bay. |
This table, inspired by Ginsburgh’s elemental mappings, shows the atom as “mostly positive” with “very little neutral matter” relative to its defining function. Outbound link: For more on atomic structure, visit Khan Academy’s Atom Page.
Contrasting Science’s Flaws: Torah’s Eternal Truth
As discussed in our previous blog, science’s timelines often err due to agendas, but here too, early atomic theory faltered. Until the 1800s, atoms were deemed indivisible (from Greek “atomos”), ignoring the divisible nucleus revealed by J.J. Thomson and Ernest Rutherford. This mirrors how secular views dismiss the soul’s indivisible positivity, reducing humanity to material evolution. Yet, Torah anticipated this: the Zohar describes creation’s “sparks” as positive divine energies encased in neutral vessels. Negativity is seen as mere shells (klipot) to be transcended.
Archaeological ties, such as Dr. Douglas Petrovich’s proto-Hebrew inscriptions, affirm that Hebrew encoded such truths long before Greek philosophy. Zephaniah 3:9’s “pure language” encompasses these insights, where all 27 letters appear nearby, symbolizing completeness in positive creation.
Our Jewish family’s migrations—by ship to the USA—echo this resilience: amidst negativity (persecution), the positive core (Torah observance) preserved our identity. It is much as the nucleus withstands electron fluctuations.
The Sages’ Approach: Tools for Atomic Insight
Jewish exegesis employs PaRDeS to uncover layers: Pshat (literal atomic structure), Remez (hints in Hebrew roots like “adam” to “atom”), Drash (life lessons from positivity), and Sod (mystical nucleus as divine). Others lack these tools, viewing atoms mechanically rather than with spiritual depth. Sages like the Ramban foresaw energy-matter conversions, aligning with E=mc² yet rooted in Torah.
In conclusion, the atom’s mostly positive nucleus, surrounded by scant neutral matter, teaches us to nurture our divine core. Let negativity orbit harmlessly. Science glimpses this, but Torah perfects it, guiding Israel as innovators and lights.
Stay tuned for more in this series—next, exploring elemental ties in scripture. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, Gavriel Ben David, for in-depth discussions.1 Visit beithashoavah.org for resources and community.2
Signed, Hazan Gavriel ben David