Arutz-7's Arik Kahane spoke with Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim Dean Rabbi Shlomo Aviner about the spiritual aspects of the tragedy: "Israel's first space director Prof. Yuval Ne'eman said that men need not be sent up into space, only unmanned rockets. Do you agree?"
Rabbi Aviner's response:
"That is of course a question that scientists have to answer. In general, however, some say that it's a waste of resources to invest in space study at the expense of other needs such as the poor down here on Earth. This is not true, however, because even studies that in the short-range appear to be abstract, bring benefit to humanity in the long-range... Without 'research' there can be no 'development...' It's clear, of course, that there needs to be a balance... Science sometimes exacts a price in human lives. But it's true that just as one may in general not endanger his life, still and all, one is allowed to work in certain more hazardous occupations, or even to travel on highways even though there are car accidents... The pursuit of science and knowledge is something from which humanity gains, even though there are sometimes casualties ... We will not stop our pursuit of science, but must merely take the proper precautions..."
Rabbi Aviner asked to note the following:
"Even the fact that people died has to be taken in the proper proportions. When someone is murdered by terrorist criminals, it's much worse than when someone is killed by a technical glitch; I don't know why people aren't much more shocked by terrorist murders than by what happened yesterday..."
Rabbi Aviner's response:
"That is of course a question that scientists have to answer. In general, however, some say that it's a waste of resources to invest in space study at the expense of other needs such as the poor down here on Earth. This is not true, however, because even studies that in the short-range appear to be abstract, bring benefit to humanity in the long-range... Without 'research' there can be no 'development...' It's clear, of course, that there needs to be a balance... Science sometimes exacts a price in human lives. But it's true that just as one may in general not endanger his life, still and all, one is allowed to work in certain more hazardous occupations, or even to travel on highways even though there are car accidents... The pursuit of science and knowledge is something from which humanity gains, even though there are sometimes casualties ... We will not stop our pursuit of science, but must merely take the proper precautions..."
Rabbi Aviner asked to note the following:
"Even the fact that people died has to be taken in the proper proportions. When someone is murdered by terrorist criminals, it's much worse than when someone is killed by a technical glitch; I don't know why people aren't much more shocked by terrorist murders than by what happened yesterday..."