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Recent graduate with a BA in Computer Science. Interested in working on useful projects, such as education or search. Blogs: Zappable.com, TorahJournal.com/Blog.


2d
comment Aruch Hashulchan's moon-distance estimate
Some people obviously knew more astronomy in Lithuania, but it a long time even for geocentrism to be abandoned. E.g. see rationalistjudaism.com/2012/06/… and amazon.com/New-Heavens-Earth-Reception-Copernican/dp/0199754799
2d
comment Aruch Hashulchan's moon-distance estimate
Even if had been estimated before, it doesn't mean people knew about it in Eastern Europe. (Columbus would have never tried to sail to India if he knew the Earth was as large as Eratosthenes had calculated.)
2d
answered How do we know that God does not take human form?
May
21
awarded  Necromancer
May
19
answered Why is Avraham's monotheism not mentioned in the torah?
May
14
comment How can I know a rav has daas Torah
The phrase "Da'as torah" doesn't appear in the Talmud, but "Emunas Chachamim" does. See judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/11617/…
May
13
comment Why is Shavuos all alone?
@IsaacMoses, AFAIK Amazon doesn't let you copy text from their previews of books.
May
13
revised Why is Shavuos all alone?
added 243 characters in body
May
13
answered Why is Shavuos all alone?
May
9
comment What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
ok, since u insist..
May
9
revised What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
added 439 characters in body
May
9
comment What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
That's what the links are for, but I added clarification.
May
9
revised What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
added 31 characters in body
May
9
answered What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
May
8
answered Can we visit the Temple Mount?
May
5
revised How are pre-creation >4000 BCE human civilization and pre-flood >2300 BCE civilizations that continued reconciled with Judaism?
added 266 characters in body
May
5
answered How are pre-creation >4000 BCE human civilization and pre-flood >2300 BCE civilizations that continued reconciled with Judaism?
May
3
comment How was Saul a Tzadik if he wiped out Nov?
I think it would be hard to justify all of Shaul's actions based on moreh b'malchut. I heard that Shaul was a tzaddik but eventually went somewhat mad in a way he didn't have full control over, so could not be considered a rasha. (This may be the רוּחַ-רָעָה mentioned in Shmuel 16:14.)
Apr
18
comment Do Rabbis have to be Jewish by ethnicity?
Mea culpa, there are such opinions. However, it is very difficult, since a ger cannot be a Nasi according to all opinions. Its much simpler to say they were descendants of gerim. See Maharal "אבל יש שפירשו כי הם עצמם גרים היו בודאי זה טעות גמור". Otherwise, there case was an exception to the rule which cannot be applied in other cases (See Igros Moshe).
Apr
15
answered Sources discussing paying for Torah education