Original Article Published on the BabagaNewz

Dan Shechtman was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of quasicrystals, a discovery that initially made him the laughingstock of the scientific world.

“The stone that the builders despised has become the cornerstone” Psalms 118:22

People laughed at him. His colleagues publicly ridiculed him and called his ideas “nonsense.” But now they admit that he was right all along. Quasicrystals do exist and Dan Shechtman, professor at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, will soon be awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry for discovering them.

Before Shechtman came along, scientists believed that the atoms in crystals were arranged in a certain way a periodic order that repeats itself. Shechtman, on the other hand, discovered that atoms could be ordered in a different way a pentagonal symmetrical shape that never repeats. Fortunately, Shechtman knows the true meaning of hatmadah (perseverance). He successfully convinced the scientific world of his discovery and now quasicrystals are being used to better people’s lives. Quasicrystals are now used, for example, in thin needles made specifically for eye surgery.

We caught up with Professor Shechtman to find out more about his discovery, his determination, and his life experiences.

BABA: How would you explain what quasicrystals are?
SHECHTMAN: This is difficult. My granddaughter, age 9, knows how to explain it and she did on Israeli television. There is a YouTube video of me on the Technion site. [Watch the video below.] There, I speak very slowly and it is in English—it is the best simple explanation I can give.

BABA: How did people react when you first started speaking about quasicrystals?
SHECHTMAN: People thought I was wrong and that what I said was unacceptable. They said it went against the grain of science. Friends tried to divert me to the right directions; enemies tried to mock me and expel me from the scientific group. In the first year or two, life was not easy; that is okay—some suffer for their beliefs. The Jewish people have suffered for thousands of years for their beliefs. I knew I was right and can prove it.

BABA: How are perseverance and determination essential to achieving one’s goals?
SHECHTMAN: If you find something new and unusual and you are a good enough scientist who can trust your findings, then you should stand behind your idea and fight for it and also listen to others. In most cases, people are wrong when they say they discovered something new. New discoveries are rare. But if you know you are right, be ready to fight but be aware that you may be mistaken and be ready to listen to other people. That’s exactly what I did I listened to others.

BABA: What, in your opinion, makes a good scientist?
SHECHTMAN: The virtues and character of a good scientist should include a humble attitude and willingness to listen; but on the other hand, you should stand and fight for your beliefs if you are convinced you are correct.

BABA: What was your childhood like in Israel?
SHECHTMAN: I was born in Tel Aviv. At 3, my parents and I moved to Ramat Gan, a town near Tel Aviv, where I did my primary school studies. After I graduated 8th grade, we moved to Petach Tikvah, a town east of Tel Aviv; it is there that I did my high school studies. At that time, I had to choose what to study humanistic studies; biology; or realistic studies, which is math, physics and chemistry. I chose realistic studies, then did military service. I went to the Technion to continue my studies for my bachelors, masters, and PhD. I then did a post doctorate at Aerospace Research Laboratories at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, from 1972 to 1975. After that, I came back to the Technion, where I have held every possible position lecturer, senior lecturer—every rank through distinguished professor!

BABA: What did you want to be when you grew up?
SHECHTMAN: A mechanical engineer. It is all because of a book by Jules Verne called, The Mysterious Island. The book describes five men who flee from Atlanta in a hot air balloon during the Civil War in the United States. They are stranded on an island with no civilization and they manage to create life. The main character is Cyrus Smith, an engineer. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be able to make everything! I always thought there was nothing better than to be a mechanical engineer!

BABA: Who were your heroes growing up?
SHECHTMAN: Cyrus Smith from the book and also my grandfather. He came to Israel from Russia in 1906 105 years ago. He was a leader in Israel, a founder of the Labor Party, and a friend of the country.

BABA: Any advice for our readers?
SHECHTMAN: Study, study, study! Find something that interests you. Become knowledgeable; read about it, Google it, go to the Internet. Science and technology are wonderful!

BABA: Thank you, Professor Shechtman, and congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize!

Israel’s Nobel Prize Winners:

Dan Shechtman, Chemistry, 2011

Ada E. Yonath, Chemistry, 2009

Robert Aumann, Economics, 2005

Aaron Ciechanover, Chemistry, 2004

Avram Hershko, Chemistry, 2004

Dan Kahneman, Economics, 2002

Yitzhak Rabin, Peace, 1994

Shimon Peres, Peace, 1994

Menachem Begin, Peace, 1978

Shmuel Yosef Agnon, Literature, 1966


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For close followers of Israel, such people, concepts and events as Yonatan Netanyahu, the Law of Return, the Balfour Declaration—even Sbarro and Dolphinarium—are quite well known. For the majority of non Jews and even Jews, however, they are quite foreign.

Today marks the one week anniversary of the release of Gilad Shalit. His release provides Jewish educators with an opportunity to initiate important discussions with our students, their parents, friends and neighbors. Nearly everybody has an opinion about the “fairness” of swapping Shalit for more than 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails. And this complex is worth discussing.

Shalit’s release seems to have left many wondering who are the “good guys” and “bad guys.” Who are these people who returned home to a hero’s welcome? How was an Israeli soldier “kidnapped?” Why do Israelis go in to the army in the first place, and for how long? Such questions point to one important fact–many people don’t know basic history—of Judaism, Zionism, of the Arab/Israeli conflict

Helping teach these “basics” is a fitting tribute to Gilad Shalit. And let’s commit to educating a few of our friends—before November 2nd. This date is the 94th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration of 1917–the famous letter from Arthur James Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, to Baron Rothschild, a leader of the Jewish community. It contains a famous line which is useful in our work with our students:

“His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

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A couple of years ago, I became aware of the sad fact that many Tikvah campers had not celebrated their becoming bar/bat mitzvah. It seemed natural that all children regardless of ability or disability–celebrated b’nai mitzvah. I therefore added the following questions on our Tikvah application; it was my hope that simply seeing these questions would encourage prospective Tikvah applicants to stop and consider that every person becomes bar/bat mitzvah, and every person can celebrate bar/bat mitzvah.

Please describe how you decided to mark your child’s becoming bar/bat mitzvah. (in shul, in Israel, Shabbat vs. non Shabbat, special service?). How did you reach this decision?  If your child did not celebrate his/her bar/bat mitzvah, what factors influenced your decision. We have proudly celebrated many Tikvah and inclusion program bar and bat mitzvahs at Camp Ramah, and we have heard moving stories of bar and bat mitzvahs celebrated in various home communities. We will continue encouraging Tikvah families to explore the many possibilities for marking their child’s b’nai mitzvah.

I was delighted to attend the bar mitzvah of Max, a young man with autism, this past Sukkot Sunday. His mother, Helene, is very appreciative that a current Tikvah mother shared the story of the bar mitzvah of her son also a young man with autism. The Tikvah mothers encouragement, her willingness to share her sons bar mitzvah learning program as well as the details of the bar mitzvah service inspired Helene. Helene in turn worked closely and collaboratively with her own synagogue, Town and Village Synagogue, in Manhattan. The rabbi, cantor and community welcomed Max with open arms as they planned a creative bar mitzvah which was appropriate for Max. (I was lucky to be part of the bar mitzvah teaching team!).

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When I started teaching Max, it was unclear if he’d even set foot in the synagogue on his bar mitzvah day. As his parents explain in this beautiful, moving video, Max loves “Blues Clues” and is motivated by French fries. Aliyah l’torah and d’var torah were not likely to be part of Max’s bar mitzvah–we did not know at first what a Max bar mitzvah might look like. Max is a young man with autism and limited expressive language.

After several sessions working with Max in his home—singing songs, clapping, reading stories and putting “Blues Clues” on such objects as challah, candle sticks and a kipah, we began taking Max to his synagogue, Town and Village Synagogue in Manhattan, to meet with Cantor Shayna Postman. The synagogue had never celebrated the bar mitzvah of a boy with autism, but they were open to working with Max and his family.

Shayna knew of Max’s love of music and began playing guitar for and with Max. Max enjoyed looking at Shayna’s mouth as she sang—and he had a special pick for strumming on her guitar. Together, they sang the Shema. And played drums for Halelu. Little by little, it seemed Max just might celebrate his bar mitzvah in the shul.

On the Sunday of Chol Ha Moed Sukkot, Max entered the synagogue—with his IPad and headphone. He didn’t agree to wear a tie or jacket, but he did wear nice khaki pants, a white shirt and a kipah. The cantor welcomed the guests, and his parents told Max it was time to put away the Ipad. His family presented Max with a tallis, which he wore proudly. He carried a small torah, shook a lulav and etrog (for his Sunday of Sukkot bar mitzvah), and stood at the torah offering one word answers to the cantor’s question about things he loved (“mommy, daddy, music, French fries, baby sitter Stacy…”). 

While Max did not say the Torah blessings, read from the Torah or deliver a d’var torah, Max truly became bar mitzvah that day. The cantor’s love for Max was obvious to the fifty guests in attendance. She bothered to get to know Max and appreciated Max’s abilities while also understanding his limitations. 

Cantor Postman delivered a beautiful mi sheberach prayer for Max. My hope and prayer is that more rabbis and cantors will continue to create caring communities where the Max’s of this world will have a Jewish home.

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