The Torah Code phenomenon began in the 1990s when Israeli mathematician Eliyahu Rips and colleagues claimed to find encoded names, dates, and events in the Torah using Equidistant Letter Sequences (ELS). Their *Statistical Science* paper suggested non-random clustering of information about rabbis.
The idea exploded globally with Michael Drosnin’s bestseller *The Bible Code*, which claimed predictions of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, Clinton, 9/11, and other events—sparking worldwide fascination and controversy.
Steven Knight’s investigation explores the human psychology behind the belief: our evolved pattern-seeking brains, confirmation bias, and deep need for meaning and divine connection, especially in uncertain times. The codes represent a modern, computerized evolution of ancient Kabbalistic traditions like gematria, now democratized by the internet.
