Bet Aviv to Feature Maryland-Based Astronaut as Scholar in Residence

Bet Aviv is going to infinity and beyond with an upcoming scholar-in-residence event, which will feature an astronaut from Maryland as the guest of honor.

Richard “Ricky” Arnold, who spent over 200 days living on the International Space Station, will be joining the congregation for the “How Great are Your Works: Reflections of a Scientist, Astronaut and Rabbi” event on June 8 to discuss creation theory and the philosophies he has adopted due to his time in space.

“How Great are Your Works” is the latest in Bet Aviv’s slate of Scientists in the Synagogue programs, which are funded by the Sinai and Synapses nonprofit organization. Each year, Sinai and Synapses selects 15 congregations to receive a $5,000 grant, along with access to other resources, for the purpose of creating science-based programming.

Bet Aviv was selected as part of the 2023 cohort thanks to a grant application written by Executive Board Vice President Darla Strouse.

“[The Scientists in the Synagogue program] has been going very, very well. People have really loved it,” Strouse said. “It’s an interesting perspective, looking at scientific concepts from the standpoint of Judaism. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people who did not think they would enjoy these programs as much as they do.”

Some previous subjects of Bet Aviv’s Scientists in the Synagogue programs have included quantum dynamics and exploring the legitimacy of herbal remedies, with every subject viewed through the lens of Judaism and how a Jewish philosopher might approach it.

Some of the guest speakers at these events have been Bet Aviv congregants in scientific fields, and others have been scientists supplied by Sinai and Synapses, but Strouse actually met Arnold when he was working as a science teacher. She recalled that when he returned from his Mission with NASA, Strouse, who worked at the State Department of Education, helped him get his teacher recertification in a more timely manner. He promised that if she ever needed him, he would “be there,” and he will be returning the favor at the event.

Originally from Bowie, Arnold took part in two space missions, one in 2009 and one in 2018. During the former, he delivered the final set of solar arrays to the ISS. Currently, he serves as the director of professional programs at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, though he still frequently posts about space on his social media.

“I am happy to participate in this informative day and to share my experiences rocketing into space and living on the International Space Station for over three months. My presentation encapsulates the mission of the ISS, which is to explore the unknown, discover new worlds and push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits,” Arnold said. “What a wonder it was for me to see the beauty of Earth from ‘on high’ and to think about how far we’ve come and what may lie in the future.”

Like the event’s title suggests, Arnold will not be the only speaker. Bet Aviv’s Rabbi Linda Joseph will be taking part in both the morning “Creation: A Discussion from Scientific and Jewish Perspectives” session and the afternoon “Experiencing the Earth from on High: An Astronaut and Rabbi Reflect” session. Joining her for the morning session will be Richard Madonna, a Bet Aviv congregant who works as a physicist and a senior researcher at Caltech University. Madonna and Joseph’s session will be focused primarily on Jewish creation theory and how it aligns with and differs from scientific thought regarding the universe’s origins.

As someone who spent time living on the ISS and working with astronauts from around the world, Arnold’s views on working together with one’s fellow man are just as relevant to the discussion as his thoughts on being in space and seeing the Earth from above, Strouse said.

“We’re having a lot of problems here on Earth, getting along with other people,” she noted. “He said that living and working in an environment like the ISS makes you understand that one of the most important things in life is learning to relate to other people from different cultures and walks of life.”

Requests to attend can be forwarded to [email protected]. Registration information can also be found here.