Jews in Theory: Jews at Los Alamos, NM, During the Manhattan Project

Presenter
Dr. Jack Shlachter
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Deputy Strategic Partnerships Lead & Rabbi, Jewish Center of the Moriches

A snapshot of the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos in 1945 reveals a leadership structure that is disproportionately of Jewish heritage; the division leader, deputy division leader, chief consultant, and six of the eight group leaders were “Jewish” by some definition of the term.

Of the roughly 80 individuals in the division, four (all “Jewish”) would go on to become Nobel Laureates. These colorful individuals were unique characters, and their backgrounds and connections to Judaism were quite varied.

In this talk, Dr. Shlachter will explore members of this leadership team and speculate on the connection between their presence at Los Alamos and their Jewish roots.