Sometimes the Talmud comes through with a beautiful passage that could almost be read as a lovely endorsement of science and astrophysics. All you have to do is squint hard so when the Rabbis said "constellations" (mazalot) and "tekufot" (seasons/ages), they were "in a sense" talking about astrophysics, the universe and time... and suddenly, the study of the universe is the study of God
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מִשּׁוּם בַּר קַפָּרָא: כָּל הַיּוֹדֵעַ לְחַשֵּׁב בִּתְקוּפוֹת וּמַזָּלוֹת וְאֵינוֹ מְחַשֵּׁב, עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״וְאֵת פֹּעַל ה׳ לֹא יַבִּיטוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו לֹא רָאוּ״. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁמִּצְוָה עַל הָאָדָם לְחַשֵּׁב תְּקוּפוֹת וּמַזָּלוֹת — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם כִּי הִיא חׇכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים״, אֵיזוֹ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה שֶׁהִיא לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים — הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: זֶה חִישּׁוּב תְּקוּפוֹת וּמַזָּלוֹת.
(part2)
Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: Anyone who knows how to calculate astronomical seasons and the movement of constellations and does not do so, the verse says about him: “They do not take notice of the work of God, and they do not see His handiwork” (Isaiah 5:12).
And Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From where is it derived that there is a mitzva incumbent upon a person to calculate astronomical seasons and the movement of constellations? As it was stated: “And you shall guard and perform, for it is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations” (Deuteronomy 4:6).
What wisdom and understanding is there in the Torah that is in the eyes of the nations, i.e., appreciated and recognized by all? You must say: This is the calculation of astronomical seasons and the movement of constellations ...
“And all the nations of the Earth shall see that the name of the Eternal is called upon you, and they will fear you.”
(Deuteronomy 28:10)
"As much as they would afflict them, so did they multiply and so did they gain strength..."
(Exodus 1:12)
When faced with terror and violence, we are obligated to defend ourselves, for there is no greater mitzvah than saving a life. But we must do more than that. We must show them that they have not succeeded in making us afraid of being Jewish. We will show them that the cause of darkness is hopeless because we will respond not with darkness, but with more light. We will put up more mezuzot, wear tefillin, light Shabbat candles, study Torah. This is what our enemies fear most. A little light dispels a lot of darkness.