The manuscripts exhibited unveil some of ‘Newton’s Secrets’ in two senses.

First, through them we make our acquaintance with aspects of Newton’s work and personality that, for a long time, lay hidden from the public eye, especially his alchemical experiments and his interest in ancient history and apocalyptic prophecies.

Second, they reveal to us that Newton put great effort into deciphering what he considered to be secret knowledge, knowledge encoded in the sacred texts of ancient cultures and other historical records. His attempts to extract scientific information from the biblical and talmudic descriptions of the Tabernacle and the Temple exemplify his passionate engagement in this enterprise.

Newton approached these studies with the meticulous diligence he manifests in his scientific work, and approached science with the religious fervor that led him to see himself as a kind of prophet. The treasures of this exhibition invite us to rethink traditional dichotomies: ancients and moderns, science and religion, the rational and the irrational.

Monday, 18.06.2007 to 08.10.2007
Opening Hours: Sun. - Thu. 9:00 - 19:00 ; Fri. 9:00 - 13:00
Attention: The library will be closed from 19 till 24 August 2007 inclusive.
Berman Hall, Jewish National & University Library, Giva'at Ram

The exhibition is open to the public.

Credits