Q&A: The Heliocentric Theory in Light of the Torah
The Heliocentric Theory in Light of the Torah
Question
With God’s help“D
Hello, honorable Rabbi and thank you very much for this wonderful platform.
Here is my question:
The Lubavitcher Rebbe argues that according to the theory of relativity, it is impossible to decide whether the earth revolves around the sun or vice versa. And in his words:
“Another example of this: It is well known how some of the great Jewish sages struggled with how to reconcile the plain meaning of the verses that indicate the movement of the sun and moon, while the earth stands forever, with the Copernican system, which for a long time was said to be the absolute truth, until Einstein’s theory of relativity came and proved (and of course this is proof according to the current state of knowledge) that from the standpoint of science it is impossible in any way to prove, with regard to the relation between the stars and the earth, which one is stationary and which one revolves, and therefore it is also possible that the earth stands still and the stars revolve around it, and there is no need at all to take the verses out of their plain meaning and bend them by means of forced interpretations and strained explanations, and likewise regarding the words of the Sages, which should be understood literally.” (Letters of Holiness, Volume 7, p. 133)
1. Is this claim correct?
2. If it is correct, are the two possibilities equivalent, or, based on other considerations, is there reasonable basis to assume that the heliocentric model is correct?
Answer
1. No. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the theory of relativity. It is a question that pertains to the principle of relativity (Mach’s principle): whether one can define a preferred frame of reference relative to which everything else rotates. If body A rotates relative to body B, then if you place the origin of the coordinate system at body B, it will come out that body A rotates relative to it. There is no mathematical way to decide which one is standing still and which one is rotating. This has been known מאז Galileo, with no connection to the theory of relativity. The theory of relativity only determines what changes the laws of nature, time, and space undergo when moving between different frames of reference.
Indeed, in physics it is customary to define such a preference through fictitious forces and inertial frames, but that is a definition. Kinematically, there is no way to determine who is standing still and who is rotating. I also discussed this in columns 112 and 481.