Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists - The History of AOJS

The History of AOJS

There was a time, not very long ago, that the very notion of an Orthodox Jewish Scientist was considered an anomaly on the Jewish scene. In the 1940's, despite general shock over the Holocaust, some of the most prestigious universities still had formal or informal quotas limiting the number of Jews, and exams were often held on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. As a result, Orthodox Jewish science students constituted only about one in 1,000 Jewish university students in the U.S. Today, the religiously observant doctor, physicist, computer programmer, engineer, and psychologist are commonplace. Often called upon by the rav, or Torah authority, to explain the scientific principles that will guide him in his halachic decision making, the Orthodox Jewish Scientist has become an integral part of Orthodox Judaism observance in the ever-changing modern world. Rabbis faced with the need to apply the halacha to a rapidly changing technological world find it easier to communicate their needs to Torah scholars who are equally well versed in the sciences. The Orthodox Jewish Scientist has indeed come a long way in the synthesis of Torah and science.

On December 28, 1947, a group of scientists, most of them graduate students in the natural sciences, sat down at the first meeting of AOJS. The founding group set down five goals: to clarify the bond between science and the Torah; to apply Torah principles in solving specific problems; to further themselves professionally and socially by associating with others who had common interests; to advise religious students interested in science; and to train in areas of science needed in Israel. The organization reached its peak in the early 1960's when they had nearly 2,000 dues-paying members.

Since its inception in 1947, the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists (AOJS) has been at the forefront of addressing the interface of science and halacha. Initially, AOJS served as a safe haven and social outlet for a few frum physicists and chemists to share their ideas, and as an agency to resolve apparent conflicts between scientific findings and Torah beliefs. It also became the address for those seeking halachic guidance in areas where halacha and science interfaced.

In the 1960's, AOJS expanded its domain to service those in the medical, nursing, computer psychological and social sciences. It was also during this period that AOJS became involved in social activism. It would decry, raise public awareness, and create and/or assist agencies working in the areas of spousal, child and drug abuse in the Orthodox community. It was also active in seeking the release of Jewish scientists from the USSR.

The AOJS is presently divided into three major sections: physical & computer sciences, medical & life sciences, and behavioral sciences. The Orthodox Jewish scientist working through the AOJS, has become a major source of reliable scientific information for the Torah community all over the world, and is recognized as having made important contributions in very practical ways to the development of the halacha.

From the perspective of Jewish law and theology, AOJS provides a forum for research, innovation and discussion of these increasingly difficult areas. AOJS, as well, has created an open forum in which scientists can consult, network and concur with fellow professionals in their discipline. There are, to date, over 2000 members and friends of the AOJS, worldwide - including professionals (doctors, psychologists, research scientists, etc.), academicians, rabbis, students and informed lay people.

AOJS has hosted hundreds of conventions, conferences, symposiums and lecture series' that have broadly focused on these subjects. Thousands of articles have been published and circulated to the Orthodox Jewish public pertaining to the science/halacha interface. Books have been published, scientific advances have been made, difficult areas in halacha have been clarified. All this…is AOJS.