Part 1: The Middle Ages

Surprisingly and in contrast to the general belief, some Jewish scholars had deep and even crucial contributions to the development of the Physical Sciences during the Middle Ages and thereafter. Rabbi Levi Ben-Gershom, Rabbi Avraham Eben-Ezra and a few more not only dealt with Science, but investigated it. Rabbi Hasdai Crescas' work had influenced Jordano Bruno and through this could have influenced even Galileo and Newton. Unfortunately, during the 17th and 18th centuries there was a decay of Jewish interest in secular studies.

Part 2: The New Era

In the 19th century a process of Jewish return to science takes place. It is part of the social development, originating with the French Revolution, and the process of emancipation. The ongoing scientific-industrial revolution creates new jobs and employment opportunities. A new class of the white collar, i.e. clerks, engineers, economists, etc., is emerging. People of Jewish origin were admitted to this new middle class, having the advantage of literacy. The gates to scientific activity were, at large, still closed for Jewish people. Although at the 20th century the limitations were officially canceled, discrimination of Jews has practically prevailed in many places, in Europe and in the United States, often in the form of Numerus Clausus at the universities. Top level universities at the United States were practically closed for Jewish admittance until the end of WWII. From recently published reports of the Nomination Committees, which handled the nomination of Albert Einstein to the post of Professor at the Zurich University in 1909, as well as in case of admission of Richard Feynman as PH.D. student in theoretical physics to the Princeton University, we learn that members of the committees have expressed their concern that the candidates are Jewish, and "As it is well known, Jews do not behave properly". The defenders of these nominations had to reassure that "this Jew is not like the others". Despite all above limitations, the contribution of Jewish physicists became noticeable. At the second half of the 19th century we find such great physicists of Jewish origin like Karl Jacobi, Heinrich Hertz and Albert Michelson, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907 for his famous experiments with measuring the velocity of light.

Editorial remark: The above article on the "Jewish Contribution to Physical Sciences During the Middle Ages and the New Era", by Prof. Yuval Ne'eman, brings the first part, entitled "In the Middle Ages", of a series of articles to be published in the forthcoming issues. It is based on the booklet "From the Quark up to the Cosmos" by Prof. Yuval Ne'eman, which was published by the National Academy of Science. This is a description of the birth of Physics research beginning with the Hebrew settlement in Erez Israel at the turn of the 20th Century, its development after the establishment of Israel and up to the latest achievements, and future challenges.