Space Torah: Film Screening and Director Q and A
Hosted By: My Jewish Learning
In 1996, NASA astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman brought a small Torah scroll on board the Space Shuttle Columbia. On Shabbat, while orbiting Earth, he read from the book of Genesis: “In the beginning God created heaven and the earth.”
It was a moment of unforgettable Jewish history — the first Torah scroll in space — and one that still resonates today, exactly 30 years later.
Join us at My Jewish Learning for a screening of a short documentary about Hoffman and his journey, “Space Torah” — and then hear from Hoffman himself in an online Q&A!
The story shows how family, educators, scientific and religious communities can achieve great things and bring our identity to new realms.
The production of “Space Torah” was led by director Rob Cooper of Verissima Productions. Since its completion, the film has been selected for over 40 film festivals worldwide and has won several awards. It has also been used as an educational tool in various settings, including schools, universities, religious institutions, workplaces and summer camps.
This event will last approximately one hour, including the 25-minute film screening. The conversation will be recorded and sent to all registrants.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Dr. Jeff Hoffman made five space flights as a NASA astronaut. He has performed four spacewalks, including the first unplanned, contingency spacewalk in NASA’s history (STS 51D; April, 1985) and the initial repair/rescue mission for the Hubble Space Telescope (STS 61; December, 1993).
In August 2001, Dr. Hoffman joined the MIT faculty, where to this day he teaches courses on space operations and space systems design. His primary research interests are in improving the technology of space suits and designing innovative space systems for human and robotic space exploration.
Over his five space missions, Dr. Hoffman chose to bring numerous Jewish objects with him. The highlight, which is featured in the film, is a small and light Torah scroll that he took with him on his fifth and final mission.
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey has led a distinguished career as a religious leader, educator, and advocate for social issues. He was Dr. Jeff Hoffman’s spiritual leader during Dr. Hoffman’s time living in Texas, while working at NASA. During his 30 years in Houston, Rabbi Osadchey championed various Jewish and social justice issues. This included traveling to the former Soviet Union to support Soviet Jewish refuseniks, developing the first AIDS Care Team in the Jewish community, and launching the Space Torah. He also co-chaired the United Way Campaign for the Homeless, was the first Jewish President of Interfaith Ministries, become a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, officiated at the first same-sex Jewish marriage ceremony in Houston, and supported labor issues as an Advisory Board member of the AFL-CIO Union Community Fund.
The event listed here is hosted by a third party. My Jewish Learning/70 Faces Media is not responsible for its content or for errors in the listing.
