The Secrets of the Stars

2 reviews for The Secrets of the Stars

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Abby – July 17, 2014

   
   I was referred to this book by Ira Machefsky who gives star tours at the Mitzpe ramon dark Sky site in Israel. The book focuses on how the signs of the zodiac were explained by the rabbis of the talmud, and several rabbis of a later eras, particularly Ibn Ezra. Most of the Talmud was developed in Babylon, so many of its compilers understood the science of the day, which was astrology. The book shows how these rabbis used the signs of the zodiac to demonstrate themes important to them. They appear not to have delved into using the zodiac to interpret the future, but rather to show evidence in the constellations for biblical characters and themes. There were several systems for assigning each of the 12 constellations of the zodiac to one of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the author also discusses how Ezekiel’s chariot vision ( Ma’ase Merkavah) was interpreted as referencing astronomical phenomena.The main barrier for a general reader is that the book is written from a strictly orthodox viewpoint. The ashkenazi transliterations are confusing in places ( e.g.. Rus instead of Ruth), but, in most cases, substituting a “t” or “th” for “s” will make the meaning clear. Furthermore, the author pre-supposes that all knowledge stems from Revelation, not from scientific observation and interpretation. Ideas that do not stem directly from the biblical text are explained as the teachings of Adam to all of his descendants ( ie. mankind).It is unfortunate that this book has been reviewed by a deeply anti-semitic writer who states that this book clearly demonstrates the “pagan origins” of rabbinic ( and hence, modern) judaism. He appears to feel that this is important because his stated agenda is to show that Judaism does not stem from purely God-given revelation, and consequently, Jews should acknowledge Christianity as the true pathway to God. In his other writings he demonstrates an antipathy towards Judaism so extreme, that I am led to wonder about the psychological sources of his preoccupation. Max Dimont convincingly argues in “Jews, God and History”, that jews have always strived to absorb the best of the surrounding cultures in which they have lived, while maintaining a core loyalty to biblical ideas. Rabbi Storch’s book shows how Babylonian astronomical science was mastered by the rabbis so that they could have a better understanding of the workings of God’s Creation. In the same way, some modern rabbis have shown how descriptions of creation in the Zohar anticipate the “Big Bang” Theory. The Talmudic Rabbis and medieval commentators like Ibn Ezra and Maimonides were integrating the science of their day with biblical revelation.

2. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Danny – December 10, 2018

   
   The book was an informative read and had some insights that are well worth the purchase. The difficulty I had was in locating the sources the author references – which are at times obtuse. Much of his references to Reishis Chochma of the Ibn Ezra lack page references or even ‘divrei hamaskil’. There lacks a bibliography, and some of the references in the work are just plain wrong. The thesis is sound however.One of the reviewers here claims that this book “offers documentary evidence that Orthodox Judaism is not a Biblical religion, but a Babylonian one, replete with the traditions of the soothsayers of Babylon” The reviewer, unethically posted his own book to advertise his own views. That book which should remain nameless is deeply antisemitic that contains a host of diatribes and false accusations against the Talmud, which are tropes that are often repeated in right-wing, and antisemitic circles which include blood libels and the like against Jews (which have no place in any forum). These views deserve to be discredited in the same ilk as David Irvine who was publically discredited as a Holocaust Denier. No-one in academia agrees that the Talmud or any other Jewish religious text is not deeply rooted in the Bible. In fact, on average, in a total of 2700+ folio leaves, the Talmud has 3-4 biblical references, which are analyzed, discussed and debated. Orthodox Judaism is a deeply Biblical religion, there is no other religion on the planet in which the text of the Torah – that is the five books of Moses – is read publically, three times a week as well as during festivals on which the text is read. This is codified in the religious practices of Judaism and is carried out throughout the Orthodox Jewish world. One would be hardpressed to prove that Orthodox Judaism is not a biblical religion. Even Maimonides agrees that many biblical aspects of Judaism itself have parallels in pagan religions. Parallels, and similarities prove nothing. With that logic, we could fallaciously assume that two books are similar because they have an similar number of words written in the same alphabet. The reviewer is 100% wrong in every respect of his review and shows his glaring lack of knowledge of Orthodox Judaism.