Content
Topics
- When Religion Heals, When Science Heals 18
- Morality 51
- Prayer 21
- Relationships 54
- Religion and Science 142
- Self 36
- Sinai and Synapses Fellowship 42
- Success 9
- Technology 87
- Theology 32
- Time 29
- Truth 33
- Memory 24
- Why Do People Do Bad (and Good) Things? 28
- Sacred Science 50
- Mathematics 14
- History 11
- Divrei Torah 25
- Health and Medicine 9
- Virtue 2
- AI 6
- Deepening Jewish Education in the Digital Age 1
- Belief in the Future 1
- Jewish Thought and Jewish Education for the Digital Future 2
- Ethics 61
- Are We Using Technology or is Technology Using Us? 17
- Astronomy 42
- Awe 41
- Behavior 80
- Belief 62
- Cognitive Science 48
- Compassion 29
- Consciousness 7
- Scientists in Synagogues 206
- Creativity 24
- Environment 47
- Are We More Than Our Genes? 16
- Fear 30
- Free Will 11
- Genetics 30
- God's Creation and Our Creation 27
- Gratitude 10
- Happiness 14
- Holidays 75
- Hope 14
- How Science Influences Religious Language 18
- Learning 57
Speakers
- Rabbi Justin Pines 1
- Andy German, PhD 1
- Ora Horn Prouser, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dr. Avi Greene 1
- DZ Kalman 3
- Rev. Dr. Jill Harman 1
- Rabbi Dan Medwin 1
- Drew Rick-Miller 1
- Arvin Gouw, PhD 8
- John ZuHone, PhD 7
- Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz 7
- Olapeju Simoyan, MD, MPH 1
- Amanda Townley, PhD 3
- Brian Gallagher 13
- John Marc Sianghio, Jr., PhD 8
- Rabbi Joshua Ratner 2
- Jeremy England, PhD 2
- Rev. Dr. Kristel Clayville 4
- Tim Dixon 1
- Sara Gottlieb-Cohen, PhD 9
- Dr. Joel Wolfson, MD 2
- Joyce Ann Konigsburg, PhD 1
- Myriam Renaud, PhD 4
- Reverend Dr. Eric Elnes 2
- Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner, BCC 1
- Rabbi Joshua Stanton 9
- Sarah Goss 2
- Jonathan Morgan, PhD 9
- Elizabeth Fernandez, PhD 6
- David Bosworth, PhD 7
- Rabbi Yaakov Jaffe 3
- Connor Wood, PhD 24
- Kendra Holt Moore 4
- Reverend John Van Sloten 7
- Rabbi David Wolpe 1
- Rabbi Gordon Tucker 1
- Rabbi Michael Mellen 1
- Ian Binns, PhD 6
- Briana Pobiner, PhD 3
- Dr. Rochelle Walensky 1
- Megan Powell Cuzzolino, EdD 12
- Kat Robison 10
- Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver 14
- Rev. Gawain de Leeuw 4
- Arthur N. Popper, PhD 1
- Carolyn Hall 1
- Emily Gerdin 1
- Adam Reynolds 3
- Pekka Sinervo, PhD 4
- Rabbi Arielle Hanien 6
- Rabbi Michelle Fisher 3
- Coco Xu 1
- Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad, PhD 1
- Dr. Thomas Wassink 5
- Laura Donnelly 3
- Lisa Ortuno, PhD 6
- Rabbi Annie Tucker 6
- Rabbi Jordan Shaner 2
- Julian Coffin 1
- Timothy Maness, PhD 7
- Irene G. Plotzker, PhD 1
- Stefanie West Leacock, PhD 4
- Brian Greene, PhD 1
- Marta Segal Block 3
- Rev. Mark Goodman 4
- Isaac Alderman, PhD 4
- Abigail Pogrebin 1
- Dr. Adam Pryor 10
- Rabbi David Levy 2
- Roald Hoffmann, PhD 2
- Rabbi Brad Hirschfield 1
- Rev. Zachary Jackson 15
- Jacob Sturm, PhD 1
- Dr. Ashlynn S. Stillwell 4
- David Kaiser, PhD 1
- Rabbi Rachael Jackson 14
- Heidi M. Ravven, PhD 2
- Jeremy Epstein 2
- Rebecca Epstein-Levy, PhD 1
- Devra Aarons 1
- David A. Strouse, MD 1
- Beverly Emanuel, PhD 1
- Rosalie Reszelbach, OD, PhD 1
- Rabbi David Starr, PhD 1
- Darren Orbach, MD, PhD 1
- Dr. Terri Clayman 1
- Don Postema, PhD 1
- Mike Freiberg 1
- Sheldon Berkowitz, MD 1
- George Szpiro 1
- Erik Dreff, PhD 2
- Ehud Isacoff, PhD 1
- Rena Dorph, PhD 2
- Rabbi Carol Caine 1
- David Zakariaie 1
- Robyn Cohen, MD 1
- Rabbi Braham David 2
- Jay Boisseau, PhD 1
- Dr. Michael Steinman 1
- Amitai Wahrhaftig 1
- Peter Stone, PhD 1
- David Gruenstein 1
- Howie Waldman 1
- Farnoush Safavi, MD 1
- Frederic Traylor 2
- Betsy Stone, PhD 2
- Rabbi Mois Navon 1
- Leonard Oppenheimer 1
- Jake Grossman, PhD 1
- Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman 1
- John Loike, PhD 1
- Taylor Thomas, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dr Jonathan Crane 1
- Natalie Rudolph PhD 2
- Claire Max PhD 1
- Jason Schenker 1
- Ernie Wolshin 1
- Rabbi Elan Babchuck 1
- Marc Swetlitz, PhD 1
- JD Stillwater 2
- Fred Ledley MD 2
- Randy Wedin, PhD 4
- Rabbi Linda Joseph 6
- Richard Madonna, PhD 1
- Howard Feldmesser 2
- Victoria Bond 1
- Dr. Gerard Saucier 1
- Rabbi Dean Shapiro 2
- Roy E. Plotnick, PhD 4
- Dr. Jennifer Wiseman 2
- Michael Zimmerman, PhD 2
- Randy Dimond, PhD 1
- Alfred Kaszniak, PhD 1
- Dr. Brian Patrick Green 1
- Larisa Heiphetz, PhD 1
- Rachel S. A. Pear, PhD 2
- Samuel Arbesman 1
- Telli Davoodi, PhD 3
- Rabbi Dr. Joel Levenson 1
- Judy Spencer 2
- Darla Strouse, PhD 5
- Baba Brinkman 1
- Dr. Jonathan Weinkle 1
- Michael Kaplan 2
- Rabbi Debra Landsberg 1
- Rabbi Ruhi Rubenstein 5
- Ryan Niemiec, PsyD 1
- 2019-2021 Sinai and Synapses Fellows 25
- Joe Baldelomar 1
- Mitchell Freedman, MD 1
- Rebecca Lunstroth, JD, MA 1
- Elyssa Pellish, MD 1
- Larry Lesser, PhD 4
- Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH 1
- Seth Villegas 1
- David Zvi Kalman, PhD 4
- Keith Shafritz, PhD 1
- Sharon Brown 1
- Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett 1
- Jared Pincus 1
- Dr. Joseph Henrich 1
- Miriam Brosseau 1
- Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson 3
- Rabbi Shai Held 1
- Sam McNerney 1
- Abby Olena, PhD 1
- Dr. Joshua Greene 1
- John Meitzen, PhD 1
- Molly Shoichet, PhD 1
- Rev. Dr. Gregory Simpson 1
- Amanda Lawrence 1
- Dr. Olga Kosheleva 1
- Laura Haynes 1
- Peter Hotez, MD, PhD 1
- Shamila N. Chaudhary 1
- Michael Dine, PhD 2
- Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed 4
- Victoria Templer Rotkow, PhD 3
- Rabbi Neil F. Blumofe 6
- Rabbi Ben Goldstein 1
- Dana Bash 1
- Dr. Joshua Holo 1
- Nathaniel Daw 1
- Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman 249
- Anebel Hernandez 1
- Dr. Kevin Tidgewell 1
- Jon Katz 1
- Amy Pollack 1
- Dr. Victor J. Katz 1
- Lisa Miller, PhD 1
- Rabbi Ben Zeidman 3
- Sigal Samuel 1
- Gale Sinatra, PhD 1
- Agustín Fuentes, PhD 1
- Bonnie J. Buratti, PhD 3
- Rabbi Michael Fel 6
- Rabbi Gilah Langner 7
- Sam Friedman, PhD 1
- Daniel Langton, PhD 1
- Joshua Weitz, PhD 1
- Pastor Ken Wilson 1
- Rachel Pincus 1
- Sara Huston Katsanis 2
- William Kraus, MD 1
- Pastor Zach Fleming 1
- Rev. Paul Raushenbush 1
- Annie Murphy Paul 1
- Dr. Vladik Kreinovich 1
- Lorenzo Cecutti 1
- Rabbi Daniel Swartz 2
- Snezana Lawrence, PhD 1
- Barbara Hofer, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dan Geffen 7
- Zachary Epstein, PhD 1
- Joselin Linder 1
- Betsy Von Holle, PhD 1
- Daniel Wolf Savin, PhD 2
- Dave Schmelzer 2
- Mark Bloom, PhD 3
- Rev. Adey Wassink 1
- Carly-Anne Gannon 1
- Elaine Howard Ecklund, PhD 2
- Paul Root Wolpe, PhD 2
- Azi Grysman, PhD 2
- Lori Yanowitz 1
- Rabbi Emily Cohen 2
- Steven Pinker, PhD 2
- Rabbi Amy Hertz 1
- Stephen Rosen, PhD 5
- Rachel Petroff Kessler, RJE 2
- Rabbi Binyomin Davis 1
- Rabbi Michael Satz 1
- Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn 2
- 2013-2015 Sinai and Synapses Fellows 57
- David Borger Germann 1
- Dr. Michael Summers 1
- Judy Libman 1
- Rev. Brian Sauder 1
- Seth Patterson 1
- Carmen Del Toro 1
- Elliot Berkman, PhD 2
- Judith Donath, PhD 1
- Rabbi Adam Bellows 1
- Brian Nosek, PhD 1
- Emily Oster, PhD 2
- Luisa Cortesi, PhD 1
- Rabbi Etan Mintz 2
- Stuart Firestein, PhD 4
- Rabbi Andrew Paley 1
- Judy Klinghoffer 2
- David A. Greenberg, PhD 1
- Rabbi Janine Jankovitz 3
- 2015-2017 Sinai and Synapses Fellows 53
- Dr. Nicole M. Gerardo 1
- Julian de Freitas 1
- Professor Noah Efron 1
- Rabbi Lawrence Troster 1
- Rev. Casey Ben-Aimé 1
- Shira Leibowitz Schmidt 1
- CJ Baldelomar 1
- Grace Wolf-Chase, PhD 2
- Karl Giberson, PhD 1
- Rabbi Ari Kaiman 1
- Reverend Rose Ann Vita 1
- Ethan Siegel, PhD 1
- Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman 2
- Tania Lombrozo, PhD 1
- Rabbi Rachel Safman 4
- Greg Cotsoona, PhD 1
- David Keleti, PhD 4
- Alan Leshner PhD 2
- 2016-2017 Scientists in Synagogues Selected Congregations 31
- David DiSalvo 1
- Dr. Paul Slovic 2
- Rabbi Adam Cutler 1
- Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith 1
- Rev. Doug Hammack 1
- Steven Goldman 1
- Hank Davis, PhD 1
- Rabbi Daniel Nevins 2
- Rex Jung, PhD 1
- Cailin O'Connor, PhD 1
- Helen de Cruz, PhD 1
- Michelle Lani Shiota, PhD 1
- Rabbi Jonathan K. Crane, PhD 5
- Wayne Appelbaum, PhD 1
- Jerrold Davis, PhD 2
- Gary Heiligman, PhD 1
- Rabbi Jon Spira-Savett 5
- Marni Hall, PhD 1
- Michael Jawer 1
- 2017-2019 Sinai and Synapses Fellows 70
- Dr. Peter R. Saulson 6
- Kate Stockly 2
- Rabbi Melanie Aron 3
- Rev. Dr. Kara Slade 1
- Ted Peters, PhD 2
- Daniel Wilkenfeld, PhD 1
- Laura Trouille, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dov Linzer 1
- Sara Seager, PhD 2
- Helmut Brückner, PhD 1
- Rabbi Joshua Fixler 2
- Yair Lior, PhD 1
- Daniel H. Pink 1
- Rabbi John Carrier 1
- John Slattery, PhD 1
- Diane Sharon, PhD 1
- Dr. Rebecca Newberger Goldstein 1
- Thomas Williams 1
- David DeSteno, PhD 8
- Ian Hutchinson, PhD 1
- Lindsey Myers 1
- Rabbi Dr. David Novak 1
- Sarah Chauncey, PhD 1
- Christian B. Miller, PhD 2
- Joelle Novey 1
- Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz 1
- Amy Herman 1
- Rebecca Saxe, PhD 1
- Thomas F. Rosenbaum, PhD 1
- Judy Callahan 3
- Rabbi Marcia Plumb 1
- Rabbi Ian Pear 1
- Deena Gottlieb 1
- Rabbi Avi Orlow 1
- Rabbi Michal Loving 1
- David Haymer, PhD 2
- Lisa Sowle Cahill, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dr. Jack Shlachter 1
- Dan Rothstein 1
- Julien Musolino, PhD 1
- Naomi Oreskes, PhD 1
- Razel Solow, PhD 1
- David Novick, PhD 1
- Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb 1
- Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz 5
- John Zaia, MD 1
- Rabbi Elaine Zecher 1
- Braden Molhoek, PhD 1
- Alan Lightman, PhD 2
- Derek Nelson 1
- Elad Nehorai 1
- Lisa Miller 1
- Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl 3
- Val Snekvik 1
- David Mogul, PhD 1
- Matthew I. Banks, PhD 2
- Rabbi Fred Hyman 1
- Tiffany Shlain 2
- David B. Yaden, PhD 1
- Kent Harber, PhD 2
- Steven Pastor 1
- Robert Pollack, PhD 2
- Ross Ellenhorn, PhD 1
- Julie Reynolds, PhD 3
- Rabbi Nathan Roller 1
- Rabbi Elliot Dorff 2
- Stephanie Meyers, MS, RD, LDN 1
- Rabbi Dan Slipakoff 1
- Albert Hayden 1
- Rabbi Bradley Hirschfield 2
- Rabbi Oren Hayon 2
- Venkat Venkatasubramanian, PhD 1
- Debbi Dunn Solomon 1
- Dennis Gilbride, PhD 1
- Michael Gottlieb, PhD 1
- Zander Harpel 1
- David Rosmarin, PhD 2
- Kevin Ladd, PhD 1
- David H. Zald, PhD 1
- Robin Coyne 1
- Rabbi Robert Scheinberg 4
- Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein 1
- David Snyder, MD 1
- Ian Brown 1
- Nora Renthal, MD, PhD 1
- Cantor Olivia Brodsky 1
- Marnie Gelbart, PhD 1
- Rabbi Dan Ain 1
- William D. Richards 1
- Dr. Carey Murphy 1
- Itzik Nir 1
- Michael James, PhD 1
- Rabbi Leah Citrin 1
- Zane Fernandez 1
- Diana Butler Bass 1
- Kim Regnier Jongerius, PhD 1
- Robert Shalwitz, MD 1
- Robyn Fivush, PhD 1
- Razel Solow, PhD 1
- Ciara Reyes-Ton, PhD 2
- Ellen Knell, PhD 1
- Marshall Kohen 1
- Rabbi Jason Rubenstein 1
- Ariel Anbar, PhD 2
- Dr. Christopher Cotter 1
- Imam Abdullah Antepli 1
- Rabbi Rachel Ain 2
- Dr. Greg Samsa 2
- Janet McDaniel 1
- Michael Shermer, PhD 3
- Rabbi Noah Fabricant 1
- Adam Lyon, PhD 1
- Dr. Andrea Ciaranello 1
- Kristine Henriksen Garroway, PhD 2
- Rabbi Alex Braver 1
- Roger Price 1
- Dominic Packer, PhD 1
- Rabbi Benjamin Spratt 1
- Julia Stoyanovich, PhD 1
- Howard A. Smith, PhD 1
- Josh Gruenstein 1
- Morris Levine 1
- Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld 4
Months
- September 2026 1
- August 2026 4
- July 2026 4
- June 2026 3
- May 2026 2
- April 2026 2
- March 2026 3
- February 2026 4
- January 2026 3
- December 2025 3
- November 2025 3
- October 2025 3

Content by Zachary Epstein, PhD

Dr. Zachary Epstein received his PhD in laser physics from the University of Maryland, and is now Senior Staff Scientist at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he is a senior professional staff who works with lasers in the military context on a daily basis.

Nov 17, 2022

Let There Be Light: Laser Weapons, Jammers, and 21st Century Ethical Implications

Zachary Epstein, PhD

When are we shaped by our texts and creations, and when do they shape us?