A week ago, a scientist warned that the world might end . . . a week ago.

A week ago, a scientist warned that the world might end . . . a week ago. Which is why he wasn’t celebrating with the rest of his colleagues in the scientific world over the brand new Large Hadron Collider that was unveiled beneath the grassy sod along the Swiss-French border. Billed “the world’s largest atom smasher,” this brand new particle accelerator is a seventeen mile underground circular tunnel. In the tunnel are two parallel tubes into which scientists last week first fired one beam of protons clockwise and then fired a second beam in the second tube counterclockwise. Traveling at nearly the speed of light, the two beams made 11,000 circuits of that 17-mile tunnel . . . in a single second! Cheers went up when computers revealed that the two beams had successfully circumnavigated the tunnels and crossed the finish line in opposite directions.

Why all the hoopla? Because scientists are hoping to recreate the conditions that might have been present in the birth of the universe long ago. Their plans are to gradually increase the two beams with protons, fire them in opposite directions, and then at four points in the tunneled circuit through giant magnets cause the beams to cross into each other. At that split second massive digital cameras weighing thousands of tons will record those collisions through millions of snapshots per second. Pouring over those “pictures,” scientists hope to piece together clues that might unravel the mystery of our universe’s origin.

And that party-pooper scientist? He fears that the underground collision of those protons will threaten this earth through the formation of micro black holes, ultra-tiny versions of the collapsed stars in the universe that are known to suck in all nearby light, planets and stars. Adios amigos, is his warning.

Let’s leave to the scientists the debate over the perils of this fascinating new particle accelerator. But surely we who believe in the Creator God of the universe are not surprised at the unbridled power that science unleashes in these atom smashers. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6 TNIV). We sprinkle the word “omnipotent” in our sentences, but truly the all-powerful reality of the divine is beyond our feeble human comprehension!

Let us remember—he is the God who poured out his life for a fallen race at Calvary. At the fulcrum of the cross, the energy of a trillion trillion galaxies was released, as into the black hole of Christ’s death the sins of an entire planet were sucked into the divine heart, so that “whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). No wonder, as we noted in “Primetime”—III last week, it is so strategically essential that through prayer we bring our lost friends and family to him. What more powerful force could possibly be unleashed to save and rescue them than the redeeming love of the universe’s Creator?

Forward on our knees indeed! Dwight K. Nelson.

High Heels and High Holidays - Jewish Calendar

By Yisrael Rice

During services today my almost three year old daughter ran into the Shul, parading in my wife's high heel shoes. "Hrmph" I thought. Here it is, the special month of Elul, we are all working on preparing our souls for the approaching High and Holy days. And my daughter marches in and breaks our devoted concentration with her distracting (albeit adorable) antics.
I quickly realized that my reaction is what needed the work. Everything happens for a reason; G‑d doesn't play dice with the universe and all of that. We call this "Divine Providence." I think of it as Supernal Synchronicity.
My reaction to this cute event was, "How can this be happening when I am trying to serve G‑d?" My reaction should have been, "What can I learn from my daughter?" Upon short reflection, the answer was obvious. Here she is presenting graphically what we are all trying to do emotionally and spiritually. She is working on elevating herself just a few inches.
We have had a nice warm summer, with leisurely pastimes and a very intense focus on "taking it easy." But then, sometime during September, Rosh Hashana appears on our calendar. It is serious business, the Day of Judgment. This is followed by several more days with the inviting epithet, "Days of Repentance," which conclude with Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement.

What about transition?
Judaism does provide one. In fact, it provides an entire month before Rosh Hashana called, "Elul." And now back to the high heels. This is a month of self-improvement. It is a month in which we endeavor to lift ourselves just a few inches higher to prepare for the High Holydays. But our elevation during this month is quite different, and in a sense more profound, than the elevation of Rosh Hashana, et al.
Jewish holidays bring with them an intensive amount of light and inspiration. (Ever felt inspired on Yom Kippur? Now you know why!) On the one hand, this is awesome. On the other hand, a very important ingredient may be missing - our own personal effort.
On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we are lifted, but we are lifted from above, so to speak. During the month of Elul1, we are not privy to that awesome light. We must lift ourselves up from below. We may not feel the inspiration; we may not feel anything at all. We are simply aware that Rosh Hashana is coming again, and we must make a move, a change.
This uninspired feeling is referred to in Chassidic writings as the heel. It has the least sensitivity. But it provides the footing for the rest of one's service. And although the inspiration may be of a lower grade, it is infinitely more precious to G‑d. It is for this effort that we make, when we are not in the mood, that G‑d created us in the first place.
Our service during the Holidays is infused with G‑d's gift to us. But lifting up our heels, and changing just a bit, even when there is little stimulation – this is our gift to G‑d.

FOOTNOTES
1. The word "Elul" is also an acronym for the verse "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me." The two parts of the verse describe the two different types of elevation elucidated in the article. "I am to my beloved" refers to our work to get closer to G‑d (with little inspiration). "My beloved is to me" refers to the assistance we receive through the Divine holiday revelation.

By Yisrael Rice
Rabbi Yisrael Rice is the Executive Director of Chabad of Marin, Marin County, California and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Jewish Learning Institute.