Torah For Today! William Shatner’s trip to space
Rabbi Ariel Abel takes a topical issue and offers an Orthodox response
William Shatner, 90, last week became the oldest man to ever go into space. So, what does the Torah say about taking on new challenges in later life?
The father and mother of our nation started out their journey into the unchartered unknown aged 75 and 65, respectively. The Abrahams took up a Bedouin cause at an uninsurable age.
Who could underwrite a successful mission to an unnamed Promised Land? There were too many unknowns. And yet, we’re all here, we all exist, because of their intrepidity.
The individuality required in an Abraham is the quality rewarded on prophetic scripture with the title “inheritor”. “Abraham was unique, and [so] he inherited the land,” Ezekiel exclaimed.
Alone, a household from ancient Ur, laid a claim to what is now Israel; for that matter, both Jews and Arabs trace their claims to the Holy Land via a biological line to the same man, Abraham.
Shatner went out to conquer not land, but to attain a view of earth and the cosmos from space; an uninterrupted view of the Creator’s immeasurable handiwork.
Abraham was envisioned with the stars of the greater universe too, impressing him with the achievable at the advanced age of 85 at the ‘Covenant of the Pieces’. This occurred shortly after Abraham made his own Herculean effort to rescue his nephew Lot from captivity, which ended in incredible success.
Like Abraham, Shatner acted out his journey before making it. As an actor, Shatner was best known as Captain Kirk in the popular television series Star Trek.
Abraham foretold his own future as a journeyman and risk-taker, challenging the idolatrous status quo and discovering the Creator his own way, by logic and scientific observation.
- Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
