Published October 18, 2009
This past week, Israeli Chemist Ada Yonath received word that she was one of the winners of the Nobel prize in Chemistry. For 25 years she has been studying the processes related to the translation of the genetic code into proteins. In 2000, teams headed by Yonath at Weizmann Institute in Rehovot and the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg, Germany solved, for the first time, the complete three-dimensional structure of both subunits of a bacterial ribosome, the organelle that functions as the cellular proteins’ manufacturing nursery. This achievement was counted by Science magazine among the ten most important scientific developments of that year. The next year, Yonath’s teams revealed exactly how certain antibiotics are able to eliminate pathogenic bacteria by binding to their ribosomes, preventing them from producing crucial proteins. She has revealed in detail how the genetic information is decoded, how the ribosome’s inherent flexibility contributes to antibiotic selectivity and the secrets of cross- resistance to various antibiotic families. This discovery will hopefully also help in the struggle against antibiotic- resistant bacteria, a problem recognized as one of the most central medical challenges of the 21st century. “These models are now used by scientists in order to develop new antibiotics, directly assisting the saving of lives and decreasing humanity’s suffering,” the academy said in its announcement.
Prof. Yonath’s research is driven by curiosity and ambition to better understand the world and our place within it. This fits in with our study of this week’s portion, the first chapters in the book of B’reishit that describe the creation of the world. We all want to understand how G-d created life and how this life works? How do these chapters fit into modern knowledge of science and evolution and what is G-d trying to teach us by sharing this information with us?
This is a hot topic that has been debated profusely. We can’t possibly do it justice in this short column, but we will just say a few words. It is clear that the Torah describes the creation of the universe as the willful act of HASHEM and describes creation as having unfolded in stages. Darwin’s theory (a theory, not a fact) of Evolution left no place for G-d. There was no Divine plan. Does that mean that we have to throw out the whole theory?
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, wrote that while he did not endorse the idea of common descent (that all life developed from one common organism), even if it was ever proven by science to be true he didn’t think it was a threat to a G-d fearing person’s beliefs. On the contrary, he felt that Evolution, if ever proven, could instead cause one to be more reverent of God by understanding His wonders (a master plan for the universe). As he writes in (Collected Writings, vol. 7 pp. 263-264) “Judaism in that case would call upon its adherents to give even greater reverence than ever before to the one, sole G-d, Who, in His boundless creative wisdom and eternal omnipotence, needed to bring into existence no more than one single, amorphous nucleus and one single law of “adaptation and heredity” in order to bring forth, from what seemed chaos but was in fact a very definite order, the infinite variety of species we know today, each with its unique characteristics that sets it apart from all other creatures.”
As Rav Kook explains: The Torah was not given as a science textbook. We don’t need to spend our time trying to reconcile the verses of the Torah with the latest scientific theory but rather it is more important to find the moral and theological messages of the verses. According to Rav Kook, these verses teach us so much about G-d. G-d created the world, G-d is interested in the world and rules over it, the heavens and the earth are not gods, G-d is not subservient to the rules of nature. All this we learn from the first verse of our portion - BERESHIT BARA ELOKIM… in the beginning G-d created.” We must use scientific advances to help us make the world a better place - but we must always remember the first verse of the Torah - G-d created the world and He is our master.
Since Prof. Yonath’s prize was for studying bacterial ribisomes this weeks recipe is using an ingredient that is made using bacteria. Sauerkraut is made using the bacteria on the cabbage leaves. Also, this combination of chocolate and sauerkraut is an invention almost as amazing as Prof. Yonath’s.
Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3 eggs
1/2 cup well drained chopped sauerkraut
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 cup water
Mix together dry ingredients - flour, salt, baking powder, soda and cocoa. Cream sugars and shortening until light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add dry ingredients alternately with water, beating until smooth. Add nuts and sauerkraut. Mix and pour into greased 9 x 11 inch pan. Bake at 350Ffor 35 minutes.
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