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I am looking for recommendations of good websites and books that talk about various ways of understanding the 'conflicts' between the Torah and a modern understanding of the age of the universe, the history of mankind, and events like the Flood.

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    – mbloch
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 4:37

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The Challenge of Creation by R. Natan Slifkin

Torah, Chazal, and Science by R. Moshe Meiselman

These two books contain very different approaches; in fact, the latter may be considered largely a rebuttal to the former. Between the two of them, you should be able to cover the main approaches.

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Immortality, Resurrection and the Age of the Universe: A Kabbalistic View by Rabbi Kaplan discusss many of these topics.

See the table of contents:

  1. The age of the universe
  2. Longevity and immortality in Judaic sources
  3. On the resurrection
  4. Astrology: stars and angles
  5. Male and female
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Here are 3 books not already mentioned which are highly relevant and which I appreciated

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There is a comprehensive compendium of the Rebbe’s discussions on science topics as related to the Torah: Mind over Matter: The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Science, Technology, and Medicine, compiled by Rabbi Joseph Ginsburg and Professor Herman Branover, edited and translated by Arnie Gotfryd, Ph.D. (Jerusalem: Shamir, 2003).

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A great book:

The Challenge of Creation: Judaism's Encounter with Science, Cosmology, and Evolution by Rabbi Natan Slifkin

A great essay regarding the flood by Rabbi Marc Shapiro

A good site:

Rationalist Judaism

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I am a Reform Jew, so I think you should read at least one book from reform rabbi.

I think "The God Upgrade, Finding your 21st Century Spirituality in Judaism’s 5000 Year Old Tradition" By Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold, Jewish Lights Publishing, 2011, 143 pages, is a great source.

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    Her site is the Adventure Rabbi.
    – Shmuel
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 2:32
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They are many good sites to learn about Judaism, but the best, in my opinion, is Israel Drazin. He reviews books and prefers rational Judaism. Here is his website:https://booksnthoughts.com/

He writes a total of 50 books. My favorite is “Maimonides: Reason above all” by Rabbi Israel Drazin.

Mesora is good, too. http://www.mesora.org/

But if you want to study the conflict between science and Torah, the age of the universe or Genesis, and Noah’s flood, and how to reconcile these things, I recommend you read “Genesis and the Big Bang” by physicist Gerald Schroeder and read about Noah from philosopher and rabbi, Dr. Israel Drazin. They will answer your questions.

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  • Which book by Rabbi Drazin addresses the OPs question? As of now your references to him are tangential.
    – robev
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 2:28
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    The book I mentioned in the answer, "Maimonides: Reason above all," though strictly about Maimonides, will answer most of his questions, which is why it remains relevant. I did add new books to my answer, which do answer these as well.
    – Turk Hill
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 2:34
  • You added one book. What is it in the book about Maimonides that will answer his questions about conflicts between modern understanding of history and what the Torah says? I'm just trying to improve your answer, which as of now is vague save for the Gerald Schroeder book
    – robev
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 2:37
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    I added two books. Drazin and Schroeder, Both answer this well. Schroeder is more based on the sciences, such as creation, age of the universe, and science while Drazin is more leaning towards philosophy. The Maimonides book mentions Noah and theoretically, answers the question regarding Noah and the flood. Besides, it is imperative to know Maimonides.
    – Turk Hill
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 2:39
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    Drazin rejects all the principles of normative Judaism. From a quick perusal of his essays it seems he does not believe in Sinaitic Revalation (though I did not see a clear statement on this), he rejects the Oral Law, and he even has an essay titled " The Torah doesn’t expect people to obey its laws." He also denies the immortality of the soul and reward or punishment after death.
    – simyou
    Commented Aug 23, 2019 at 11:53

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