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The White House’s new science adviser was sworn in Wednesday using a copy of
Pirkei Avot, or Ethics of the Fathers, from the year 1492 a pivotal moment in Jewish history and world history.
The choice delighted Judaica librarians and scholars around the world.
Dr. Eric Lander, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, had not thought about which book he would use until Vice President Kamala Harris’ office called to ask.
“I confess I had not thought about the question,” Lander told Religion News Service. “But once they asked, I had to think deeply about it, because when you choose a text you’re choosing values, or history, or other meaningful things.”