C. S. Lewis Reading Day: On Affection without Familiarity

 But Affection has its own criteria. Its objects have to be familiar. 

(The Four Loves)

Welcome to my slightly early post for C.S. Lewis Reading Day. As I explained in my last post, C.S. Lewis Reading Day (November 29) this year comes out on Saturday. And since the Sabbath doesn't end until nightfall, I'll miss the festivities over at Pints with Jack. I could wait until Saturday evening to post, but I'd rather be a day early than wait until late on the Reading Day itself. 

This year's theme is storge, which is, in Lewis' analysis in The Four Loves, called Affection. Affection includes includes familial love and all others with whom we are a part of our usual day-to-day lives. With that in mind, I start my post.

Of the four types, or genres, of Love defined by the Greeks, Lewis considers Affection to be the most humble and least showy. It lacks the sparkle of romance and the excitement of friendship. Yet, in some way, it underies them all. When the passion has subsided or the adventure has passed, the lovers or friends bound by affection can pause, and enjoy the comfort of each other's company. 

That is why Affection is the love used to describe the relationship between members of a family (and here I concentrate on the nuclear family). It's the love that allows siblings to drive each other crazy but immediately stand up for each other against an outsider. It's the missing dynamic when one member is not at home. It is what comes into question when (Genesis 2:24), "a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife..." 

However, the opposite 'leaving' is challenging as well, because Affection requires familiarity. It is the comfort, the feeling that everything is as it should be, that makes Affection tick. So, what happens when someone new is added to the family and (correctly) expects affection?

I've been thinking about this, because last week my daughter got engaged!

Now, of course, we are very happy about this. And her fiancé is a wonderful young man from a fine, upstanding family. So, the question or challenge that I raise is not to look for some sort of excuse not to love him. It's more to explore Lewis' point - does Affection require familiarity?

Naturally, when it comes to such relations, we explore the biblical corpus and see what we find. Unfortunately, we don't find much, and that which we do find is more a warning than a model. Jacob and Laban whose story we read in this week's Torah portion clearly didn't get along. But even they did better than David and Saul. Despite Isaac's love for Esau, Esau's wive caused him and Rebecca much pain, and let's not even talk about Tamar and Judah. Now, we do find Moses and Jethro and that one seems to work out well. And perhaps we see echoes of that story in Lewis corpus and the relationship between Aravis and King Lune. 

To review, Moses, after killing an Egyptian slave-master, escapes the Pharoah's wrath by fleeing Egypt for Midian. There he sees that Jethro's daughters (now there is some questions on exactly who is Jethro versus Re'uel, but we'll keep it simple) are being abused by the other (presumably male) shepherds at the well. Moses saves them, and waters their sheep himself. Apparently, this abuse was a regular occurrence because when his daughters returned home, Jethro could not believe how quickly they were able to water the sheep. The daughters explained that they were saved by a stranger and Jethro (who, based on this question, was clearly meant to join Judaism) replied, and you didn't invite him to eat!? So, they invite Moses in, he stays and eventually marries one of the daughters. 

To summarize there was a conflict, the protagonist emerges victorious thanks to the help of a stranger, the protagonist tells the story of victory to his/her father, the stranger is invited in by the protagonist's father, and eventually the stranger marries the protagonist. 

That same structure is found in The Horse and His Boy. The protagonist (Shasta/Cor) is in a conflict (attempting to escape Calormen), and is helped by a stranger (Aravis). Upon emerging victorious, Aravis is invited to live in the palace by Shasta's father King Lune and eventually Shasta and Aravis marry.    

And perhaps such an outline is the key for having a relationship of Affection without the immediate familiarity that generally undergirds Affection. I don't need the familiarity with my future son-in-law because I have been told it by my daughter. The relationship she has built with my son-in-law can be shared by increasing familiarity through her stories, if not through direct interaction. I can invite him into the family with Affection because I am used to him through my daughter. Affection is familiarity and as my daughter transitions to fulfill the demands of Genesis, her Affectionate connection with her nuclear family enables us to grow our familiarity and Affection for him.

Welcome to the family! 

Further updates will be shared as warranted.  

C.S. Lewis Reading Day 2025

This Saturday the folks at Pints with Jack are spearheading the third annual C.S. Lewis Reading Day in commemoration of Lewis' birthday. This year's theme is familial love and everyone is again asked to take a moment to read and reflect on lessons they've learned from C.S. Lewis.

Again, this year there will be Reading Day livestream. Unfortunately, Nov 29 is on a Saturday so the planned livestreams won't work for Sabbath observers like me.  

I'm hoping to again have a dedicated post which I will put up Friday before sundown. 

Looking forward!  

C. S. Lewis Reading Day: A Noble Enemy (?)

This post celebrates the second annual C.S. Lewis Reading Day, spearheaded by David, Matt, and Andrew over at Pints with Jack. As I did last year, let me take a moment to congratulate to all of the societies, podcasts and YouTubers, participating in the Reading Day in commemoration of Lewis' birthday. May your efforts be successful in bringing God into a world suffering from famine. A famine which where hunger is not for bread or thirst for water, but for hearing the words of God (Amos 8:11). 

In aligning this post with the themes of the day, I will discuss one of my favorite Lewis quotes, and specifically one related to friendship (David mentioned this caveat on the Pints for Jack podcast, though I don't see it on the Reading Day website). I've already discussed this particular quote here on Torah from Narnia, but, as I did in last year's Reading Day post, I'll make this discussion about it a little more personal. 

In the Spring of 2020, I published an article in the Jewish periodical Tradition called "Four Facets of the Love of God." The article concretized ideas I had been considering on how to approach the command/theological imperative to love God. The main thesis was that one may approach loving God in several ways, for example, as a lover (an approach well documented in the bible), as a friend, as a parent, and so on. To define these different methods of love, I turned to the definitions given in C. S. Lewis' "The Four Loves." 

Shortly after the article was published, Tradition invited me to speak about my article and more broadly about Lewis with R' Mark Gottlieb. That discussion can be found here, and I thank R' Gottlieb for the opportunity to present my thoughts on Judaism and the writings of Lewis to a broader audience. Little did I know that the audience would not be entirely of Jews, but that one, David Bates, would hear this conversation. And so, in June of 2020, I received an email from David inviting me on to Pints with Jack. 

I have to admit, I was rather surprised to receive David's email. First, because I could not believe that someone would just randomly find my conversation with R' Gottlieb, and second, because I never really thought about a wider readership of C. S. Lewis. Reading Lewis was something I did and maybe a few people I knew had read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Sure, I guess if I would have thought about it, I would have realized that there must be Christian readers of Lewis, but I never thought about it and I certainly never dreamed the existence of Christian readers of Lewis would somehow touch me. 

After receiving David's email, I first went to see whether this was legit, and I listened to a bunch of Pints with Jack podcast episodes. I thought about it and discussed with my wife and kids, and of course I said yes. For those who follow Pints with Jack, I made my first appearance on the podcast in season 5 as part of Ecumenism month. I made a second appearance in season 6 to discuss "A Hebraic Inkling," and God willing, will appear again this season to discuss Joy Davidman's, "Smoke on the Mountain." 

My first time on the podcast, David asked me why I was attracted to Lewis, given my obvious theological disagreements, and I think the answer I ended up giving was that I appreciate serious attempts to strive for truth. There's more than that, of course. Lewis is an excellent writer, and insightful about the modern and post-modern world. But the strive for truth, and the opportunity for me to than clearly identify what I agree and disagree with, is what brings me to the quote for this year's Reading Day: 

Has not one of the poets said that a noble friend is the best gift and a noble enemy the next best?

The speaker of this line is the Calormen, Emeth, who is literally named for truth. Thus, we must apply his words to the concept of truth. A noble friend is the best gift for he will teach you truth. But a noble enemy is the next best, because he will force you to defend what you believe is true and thus test to see whether it is true or not. 

Our Sages worded the same concept as follows (Avot 5:17)

Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, will in the end endure; But one that is not for the sake of Heaven, will not endure. Which is the controversy that is for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai. And which is the controversy that is not for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his congregation.

Disputes for the sake of Heaven are those where both sides strive for truth. While disputes not for the sake of Heaven are those in which each side is looking out for only themselves. 

In some ways, I feel my presence in this world of non-Jewish theology puts me in the role of (hopefully) noble enemy. And I am inspired and so appreciative of the positive reception I have received. I'm coming with postulates that reject what others must take as a given. My goal in participating is not to promote Judaism, but to evangelize for investing time, effort, expense, and emotion, for the One God. All of mankind is created in the image of God. This fact assures, enables, and demands that every individual can and must have a relationship with Him.  

In the United States, C.S. Lewis Reading Day this year is on the day after Thanksgiving, a day in which we give thanks to our friends and family, and especially God Himself for the generosity He has bestowed upon us this year. Thus, today is the day for the next step. To go beyond simply acknowledging His presence and support, to actively working to fulfill His wishes and commands. And to look around, there are Sara Smith's in your vicinity - some are enemies some are friends. Both will help you along your journey, and we will return next Reading Day, to find ourselves raised and enlightened in the ways of God. 

C.S. Lewis Reading Day 2024

The folks over at Pints with Jack are spearheading the second annual C.S. Lewis Reading Day on November 29 in commemoration of Lewis' birthday. The theme this year was announced to be friendship and everyone is asked to take a moment to read, post, think about, lessons they've learned from C.S. Lewis. 

Again, this year there will be Reading Day livestreams in the evening. Unfortunately, Nov 29 is a Friday so evening livestreams won't work for Sabbath observers. However, I see there is also a planned UK-time livestream which should finish well before Shabbos for anyone who may be interested. 

I'm hoping to again have a dedicated post for that day. Looking forward!  

C. S. Lewis Reading Day: A Physicist in Narnia

This post is in celebration and commemoration of C. S. Lewis on the first, hopefully annual, C. S. Lewis Reading Day. Congratulations to all of the societies, podcasts and YouTubers striving to bring God into the world through the works of C. S. Lewis. May they go "from strength to strength and appear before God in Zion. (Psalms 84:8)"

In keeping with the spirit and goals of the Day, I wanted to share and discuss one of my favorite Lewis quotes. Of course, here on Torah from Narnia, we've already discussed many of my favorite Lewis quotes and analyzed why, as an Orthodox Jew who clearly disagrees with Lewis on major theological issues, I appreciate and value Lewis' insight. 

However, this one is different. It comes from the first letter of The Screwtape Letters, and I would like to approach it not primarily as a religious Jew (though I can hardly divorce myself from that perspective) but as a physicist. 

First some background... 

During my first year at Yeshiva University, I took Physics with Professor Arthur Komar. To our class Prof. Komar was the stereotypical absent-minded, wild-eyed physicist. He had white hair and white beard. He wore the same black pants and a black button-down shirt every day (he later told us he just had lots of the same shirts and pants). He wore a string tie. He couldn't comprehend how we could not understand something. And he gave really hard tests. 

With God's help, I managed to do pretty well those first two semesters and the next Fall those of us who survived (and were glutton for punishment) took Prof. Komar again for Modern Physics. 

We braced ourselves for more hard work and long nights of studying in line with what we already knew of Professor Komar. But, for the first three of four classes of that semester, he did something utterly unexpected: he told stories. The stories were about attempts throughout the ages to measure the speed of light. He didn't tell these stories to instruct us how to do the experiments or even to prepare us for a test. He just told stories, and we were mesmerized. 

I can't say how those classes affected me at the time, probably I and my classmates were just relieved that we weren't immediately pounded with really hard problems in special relativity (though those were soon to come). Looking back, however, I may have internalized something more. Physics, for all its mathematical equations and mask of cold, calculated logic, was a quest, an epic adventure. And, as with any great adventure, there are stories to tell. Stories of triumphs and defeats, stories of loyal friends and sworn enemies, and that sometimes, as in stories, it's not easy to tell which is which. 

The reason I bring this up here on C. S. Lewis Reading Day is because in its essence, what Prof. Komar taught me was that there is a place for physicists in Narnia. 

To explain how let's turn to my chosen quote for the day: 

There have been sad cases among the modern physicists. 

Remember that this quote was "penned" by Screwtape, a senior devil, talking to Wormwood his nephew, a junior tempter trying to sway the human he is assigned to towards sin. So, Screwtape's assertion means that there have been modern physicists who have escaped the clutches of Hell. These physicists, despite the best efforts of the tempters, came to recognize God and were on the path to Heaven. I'm not sure who Lewis had in mind, but that's not my focus for the moment. Instead, I would like to thank about how these physicists made their escape.

Actually, Lewis himself provides an answer. Earlier in that same letter Screwtape encouraged his nephew to keep the human he is tempting towards sin away from the sciences. The problem with the real sciences (not the pseudo-science which makes up so much of popular science today), Lewis explains, is that "They will positively encourage him to think about realities he can’t touch and see and who knows what might happen after that!" In other words, it's easy for humans to doubt anything they cannot touch or see, including God. But a physicist is someone who spends much of his time pondering exactly those things (not to mention the non-intuitive concepts of quantum mechanics). At that point, belief in God is not such a great leap. 

I think that's a good argument. But if I were Screwtape (especially today), I would argue a bit differently. To explain, let me go back to my own thoughts on religion and science. 

Ever since I started showing interest in physics people, especially fellow traditional Jews, have raised the questions of science contradicting Judaism. Most of these questions relate to Genesis and the creation story. How can one believe in both the Biblical account of Creation and that of the modern physicist? Of course, there have been numerous books written trying to harmonize these two perspectives with varying degrees of success. 

Honestly, though, the question never bothered me, not even a little. Because from my perspective, both religion and science are attempting to determine truth and, not surprisingly, they do not always agree. Frankly, it's hard to imagine why anyone would think that they would agree. The great Sages had plenty of arguments in their attempts to find the truths of the laws and theology of Judaism. Great physicists have argued in their attempts to determine scientific truth. So why should the two disciplines always agree?

But, you know what? Generally, we figure things out. No Orthodox Jew disputes the rabbinic prohibition against eating chicken and milk together, or prohibiting the use of microphones on Shabbat, though these were both bitterly argued in the past. Similarly, physicists have accepted the Big Bang and the existence of Black Holes, though these too were in the past points of contention. The Big Bang can even be thought of as harmonizing science and religion as it posits a point in which the universe came into being (a time zero as it were). And, someday, we'll resolve all of the "contradictions" between science and religion as long as we seek to know truth: "For all find what they truly seek" (Aslan to Emeth at the end of The Last Battle).  

This shared goal of science and religion, seeking truth be it through God's word or God's creations, are why the tempters of today must keep science away from their "patients." For in a world of "multiple truths," science, real science, must teach otherwise. There is only one truth though we may not yet have achieved it fully and we may disagree where we are on that journey.    

In my humble opinion, the above perspective, harmonizing science and religion, creates an opening for scientists in the world of religion. An opening which, frankly, I think most scientists until relatively recently always took as a given. 

Still, merely permission to believe does not take us to Narnia. To call Narnia home requires prizing, not just intellect, but passion, imagination, and adventure. In other words, appreciating stories. The Deist tells no story: God created the world, and the rest is up to humans. Those of Judeo-Christian heritage and belief tell stories. 

Why the need for stories? Why does the bible tell so many stories as opposed to just being a code of law?  

I think there are a couple of approaches one can take to this question and I'll suggest one here. Laws tell us what to do in a given circumstance. Stories tell us what circumstances we should put ourselves into. For example, one can rightly ask what to do if they do not live close by to a synagogue or church, but stories would discourage us from living in such a place and thus avoid the whole question. 

The biblical stories and accompanying midrashic interpretations, and the Narnian stories and similar works, are meant to shape our minds and souls so that we will intuitively feel into what situations we should place ourselves and which ones not. 

In the modern world, there is a vision of a genius, physicist working for years, alone, to one day emerge having achieved an amazing discovery, a true eureka moment. 

It probably happens every once in a while, I guess, but it's rare. 

What really happens is much more social. Scientists try different things (theoretical or experimental). They talk to colleagues, they argue, they join forces and try something new. Maybe what they're trying doesn't work and they'll follow a new lead. Or maybe a collaboration doesn't go as hoped, and they'll work with someone else instead. Scientists put themselves into situations where they can maximize success but sometimes it's quite an adventure to get there. They thus write and tell stories, like the stories that Prof. Komar told me. 

And it is for this reason physicists also have a place in Narnia. And it is for this reason "there have been sad cases among the modern physicists." It is true that physicists by nature must think of (sometimes non-intuitive) concepts they cannot touch or see. It is additionally true that physicists must respect truth as an ideal and moral value. And it is especially true that physicists tell stories opening their eyes to imagination and adventure. 

And once someone starts to tell stories and value stories, they might get a glimpse of The Great Storyteller writing the ultimate story.  

Welcome to Torah from Narnia 

C.S. Lewis Reading Day

 

Pints with Jack in conjunction with numerous other Lewis enthusiasts have organized the first annual C.S. Lewis Reading Day to be celebrated on his birthday November 29th. See here, for an introductory trailer. 

I suppose Jewish tradition would have instead chosen Lewis' yahrtzeit (the day of his death), the 6th day of Kislev which this year is on the 19th of November. Nonetheless, we will happily join our fellow Lewis fans and commemorate on November 29th. 

So, I look forward to doing something (to be determined) on that day and in this way fulfill the words of the Jerusalem Talmud "Levi, the son of the Nazirite said: If someone mentions a saying in the name of its author, the latter’s lips whisper in the grave." We can keep our teachers and mentors amongst the living, as it were, by repeating their teachings and learning from their words. 

Pints with Jack is recommending sharing favorite Lewis quotes, but feel free to share any ideas you might have.