And then there were Jews

Why have Jews contributed disproportionately to intellectual achievement during several periods of history? What has been the significance to humanity of this Jewish intellectual achievement? For almost 2,000 years, Jews have developed both a high value to education that emphasizes questioning. Jews have a long tradition of mystic- questioning- of epistemology and of what constitutes "knowledge." Such questioning turns out to be highly relevant to understanding 21st century physics, and particularly quantum mechanics and cosmology. Kabbalah- the main part of Jewish mysticism- actually has nothing directly to do with religion nor does not attempt to identify God or Gods beyond an unknown and possibly unknowable physical force. Some of the ideas in science and particularly quantum mechanics connect questions posed at the beginning of quantum theory that are outside of where our everyday experience can be used as a guide. It is this questioning tradition, combined with a strong scholarly work ethic and willingness to sacrifice for scholarship which distinguishes the Jewish accomplishments.