The "Block Universe" (Illusion of Time): Einstein believed in a "block universe", a four-dimensional reality where the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously, leading him to famously state that the passage of time is merely a "stubbornly persistent illusion". Most modern physicists and philosophers argue that time does have an objective, irreversible passage (often tied to the universe's increasing entropy) and is not just a psychological trick.

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PROTECTIONS FOR JEWS HAVE GROWN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS? Thought for 4s No, objective data shows that antisemitic incidents and violence against Jews have remained at or near record highs over the last two years (roughly mid-2024 to mid-2026), despite some security funding increases and a partial decline in non-violent incidents in 2025. adl.org Key statistics (primarily US-focused, as that's where most detailed tracking exists):ADL 2025 Audit: 6,274 antisemitic incidents (assaults, harassment, vandalism) — third-highest year since tracking began in 1979. Down 33% from the 2024 record of ~9,354, but still ~5x higher than a decade ago and far above pre-Oct. 7, 2023 levels (average ~8 incidents/day pre-2023 vs. 17/day in 2025). adl.org Physical assaults hit record highs: 203 in 2025 (up from 196 in 2024; pre-2023 baseline ~111). Deadly weapon assaults rose to 32 (from 23). First antisemitic fatalities on US soil since 2022. cnn.com FBI hate crime data (2024): Anti-Jewish incidents reached ~1,938 — highest on record. Jews (~2% of US population) accounted for ~68-70% of religion-based hate crimes and ~16-18% of all hate crime victims. en.wikipedia.org Surveys: ~55% of American Jews reported experiencing antisemitism in the past year (2024-2025); 79% concerned. adl.org Campus incidents dropped sharply in 2025 (583 vs. 1,694 in 2024), linked to policy changes, but overall violence and urban hotspots (NY, NJ, CA) stayed elevated. washingtonpost.com Globally, 2025 saw the highest number of Jews murdered in antisemitic attacks in decades (~20 victims reported in one compilation), with spikes in Europe, Australia, and Canada. english.tau.ac.il On "protections" and security measures:Governments and organizations have increased funding for physical security in response to the post-Oct. 7 surge:US: Expanded Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) — e.g., $94M+ to hundreds of Jewish organizations in one round. Calls for $1B+ total. Synagogues/schools invest heavily (~$765M/year community-wide). dhs.gov Europe/Canada: Boosts like Netherlands €2M for Jewish sites, Canadian $10M programs, EU working groups. combatantisemitism.org These are reactive hardening measures (guards, cameras, barriers) amid persistent threats. They haven't reduced underlying incidents to pre-2023 levels or prevented record assaults/fatalities. ADL and others note antisemitism is "entrenched" and normalized. adl.org In short, threats have not meaningfully declined (especially violent ones), so "protections" in the sense of safety and reduced targeting have not grown — they've been playing catch-up. Broader societal, online, and political factors (including Israel-related tensions blurring into anti-Jewish acts) continue driving elevated risk. Data from ADL, FBI, and others is the most reliable benchmark here.