Lunch & Learn | Rabbi Jack Shlachter: Oppenheimer & Strauss-A Jewish Perspective

Wednesday, January 29th from 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
$12 Program and Lunch | $6 Program Only

In June 1954 the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) revoked the security clearance of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific leader of the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs. Particularly in Los Alamos, the perceived view today of the clearance clash between Oppenheimer and 1954 AEC Chairman Lewis Strauss paints Oppenheimer as the victim and Strauss as the villain. This presentation will focus on the Jewish dimension of these two individuals and reflect on how their opposing approaches to their respective Jewish heritage may have contributed to the revocation.
Seeing the movie Oppenheimer is not a prerequisite for the talk, but it can be useful to view the film in advance for those who are interested.