Questions tagged [science]
The science tag has no usage guidance.
2
votes
0answers
87 views
How do the outer planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto fit into Judaism?
It is not a secret that we discover new things in all fields of science, not mentioned in our sources all the time.
We know that in Judaism the 7 planets represent/aligned with 7 spiritual forces ...
1
vote
0answers
45 views
Does Judaism differentiate between a planet and a star?
On the 4th day, G-d created Sun, Moon and the stars.
Besides the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were known since ancient times (not mentioning the existence of the real stars).
...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Measuring the universe in G-d's cubits (Eruvin 21a)
In the following passage (Eruvin 21a in William Davidson edition) the sages try to determine the size of the Torah scroll that Zachariah saw in his prophecy:
In order to determine the measure of ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Age of Universe [duplicate]
What is the most plausible way to reconcile the traditional dating of the universe (now 5779) with science's understanding that the universe is billions of years old?
3
votes
2answers
90 views
Building a Mikva Upstairs
Every Mikva I am personally familiar with is on the ground floor (first floor) or basement of its building.
Let's say a congregation owns a one story building they use as their shul. They agree to ...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Mathematical functions in Jewish Halacha [closed]
What mathematical operators, functions, and constants are mentioned in the Halachah besides addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division?
For example: powers and square or other roots, Pi etc....
-1
votes
1answer
138 views
What Rabbinical statements clearly support the Flat Earth approach?
While many people are busy looking for the slightest hints of the vast scientific knowledge possessed by our Sages, I've bumped into Rasa"G's interpretation of Sefer Hayetzirah 4,2 (is there an online ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Gr"A stating that Africa is [at] the South Pole
(Saw it today at the Kolel in Mikraot Gedolot, sorry can't find it online, please help).
At the beginning of Divrei Hayamim, Pirush HaGr"a explains various nations coming out of Noah's sons and how ...
2
votes
0answers
133 views
Is the base for bloodletting in the Talmud purely “scientific” or traditional?
Bloodletting (הקזת דם) was a commonplace medical procedure in the Mishnaic times (see Shabbos 129).
It is widely accepted that the ancient healers believed that:
"... many diseases were caused by ...
3
votes
5answers
257 views
How is “magic” defined for the purposes of the prohibition against kishuf?
As Arthur C. Clarke famously said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
The idea here actually generalizes much further. Today's technology would have been ...
5
votes
0answers
44 views
Is there a scientific basis for the claim that the 3rd day from the circumcision is the most painful and dangerous? [duplicate]
Is there a scientific basis for the claim that the third day from the day of a circumcision is the most painful and dangerous?
In Mishana (shabbath 19,3)
מרחיצין את הקטן בין לפני המילה ובין לאחר ...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
Technological advances of Yehoshua's generation over the natives
My question is based on "were-rabbis-ahead-of-the-times". A claim is made that the Torah contains scientific knowledge known to Rabbis and unknown to Gentiles.
Many try to bring examples from the ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Sources for scientific rationale for the 613 Mizvot?
Are there any published works on the scientific rationale for any of the 613 Mizvot?
For example: Handwashing: It only took the medical community did not deem it medically relevant until 2 centuries ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Acquiring Torah without Subvocalization
The Mishnah in Avos (6.6) tells of difference ways to acquire Torah. Here is Rashi’s commentary on one of the items, translated by Sefaria.org.
בַּעֲרִיכַת שְׂפָתַיִם. שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְגַמְגֵּם ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Did God really backup the Sun dial for Hezekiah?
According to 2 Kings 20:9-11., Hezekiah while on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah. The King was about to die so he asked for a sign as proof that G-d would grant him a longer life. ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
What does the Torah think of Pangea?
What does Torah literature say about Pangaea?
Is it considered be legitimate? Are there sources which lean either way?
1
vote
1answer
77 views
They could change nature and predict nature, but could not explain it
In contrast to the secularist position that the physical world is ours by right, whereas the spiritual world is hidden/inaccessible, the Jewish and generally religious position seems to be that Gd ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
How many of the parthenogenesis-capable animals came to the Noah's Ark
How many of the animals that are capable of parthenogenesis (being able to reproduce without a male and female, e.g. the Komodo dragon) did Noach take with him into the Ark - 1 or 2?
2
votes
2answers
251 views
Do the Torah codes offer scientific proof that the Torah is supernatural?
There was an experiment published in a journal called Statistical Science in 1994 that found that certain medieval Rabbis and their birth & yahrtzeit are referenced to in sefer Bereshit by running ...
2
votes
2answers
118 views
Age of the universe [duplicate]
Do contemporary Orthodox (Litvish, Chassidish, & Sephardi) Rabbi’s still believe that the world was created 5,779 yrs ago or do they agree with Aryeh Kaplan that perhaps 5779 is just the birth of ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
3 cavities of the heart and emotions?
This question is not about the anatomical validity of the claim (I got tired)!
The Shu"A Yo"D 40:1 rules (based probably on the Gm in Hulin 45b and Rashb"a):
"הַלֵּב יֵשׁ לוֹ ג' חֲלָלִים" - there ...
0
votes
0answers
76 views
Women - less Mitzvot more body parts?
According to the Gemmorah sources:
Women have much less positive Mitzvot than men, as they are freed from most of the time-related Mitzvot (Mishna Kiddushin 1:7).
Women have more body parts than men, ...
-1
votes
1answer
64 views
Obligation to accept Rabbinical sayings “על ימין שהוא שמאל”
To continue my scientific/Halachic exploration, I would like to summarize the approaches in one question that addresses the famous Rashi on Dvorim 17,11. I think this long and well-sourced question is ...
2
votes
0answers
202 views
11 pairs of ribs - practice or tradition?
THis is a follow-up question to 248-organs.
The Mishnah in Ohalot (1:8) states that there are 248 organs and lists all of them:
"מָאתַיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנָה אֵבָרִים בָּאָדָם, שְׁלשִׁים ...
2
votes
0answers
76 views
How is the male skeleton different from female?
This question is a follow-up to "Different-counts-of-the-248-organs-".
As we see from the Mishnah in Ohalot 1,8, only the bones are counted as organs, namely a bone that has a sinew and some flesh.
...
1
vote
1answer
118 views
Different counts of the 248 organs - bones or soft tissues?
First read the related questions here (mitzvot-and-their-body-parts and here (613-organs).
The Mishnah in Ohalot (1:8) states that there are 248 organs and lists all of them:
"מָאתַיִם ...
2
votes
3answers
156 views
Meaning of “נראים דבריהם מדברינו” - accepting scientific theories over Jewish tradition?
Questions about the reconciliation of the Torah and the science are very frequent and popular, but they are nothing new. The sages were asked similar questions by the philosophers of Ancient Greece ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Why there are no anti-altering failsafe measures in the Written Torah?
(The original question asked if there are any, but there aren't, hence the update).
The famous ו דגחון Sugiah in Kiddushin 30a:
"א"ל: ניתי ס"ת ואימנינהו, מי לא אמר רבה בר בר חנה לא זזו משם עד ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
Is a jew allowed to learn secular studies and science? [duplicate]
Is a jew allowed to learn secular studies and science?
Is there a prohibition against learning any secular subjects and/or science?
4
votes
2answers
84 views
Is the Ramban's observation of “images of young dog pups in urine” recorded by anyone else?
The Ramban notes in his commentary on Bamidbar 21:9 the following:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
וכבר הזכירו דבר מנוסה מפלאות התולדה כי נשוך הכלב השוטה אחרי שנשתטה בחליו אם יקובל השתן שלו בכלי זכוכית ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
Whey in butter (Chema't akkum)?
I recently read a responsum from R' Tam (brought in Shaarei Dura 78) where he discusses butter that was mixed with whey. While he permits regular butter from a gentile for consumption he nevertheless ...
8
votes
2answers
132 views
Do traditional sources address how time “works”?
I’m sorry for such a convoluted question, but this has been bothering me for some time now. While the title isn’t quite accurate, I couldn’t think of a better way to phrase it - feel free to edit if ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Why are Oats Chametz if oats cannot rise
Oats do not have gluten so they cannot rise - like rice and other such grains. I could understand why they would be kitniot but why are they chametz? I know in arvei psachim there is an opinion that ...
1
vote
2answers
259 views
Is Studying String Theory Permitted According To The Rambam?
Would the Rambam be fine with String Theory being that String Theory involves what happened before the world was created (the big bang) and beyond our universe?
5
votes
1answer
184 views
Becoming Chametz at 18 mins
According to the Talmud Pesachim 46a, a non-leavened dough should show signs of Chimutz within a shiur of walking a Mil (or 4 Mil according to the Yerushalmi), which is 18 to 24 minutes. Similarly if ...
3
votes
1answer
88 views
Names of mazalot in Judaism
Yesterday we discussed that during Zayin Adar we eat fish due to the constellation of Adar. Rambam lists these mazalot, and uses them extensively when discussing calendar calculations. They are also ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
May one perform an autopsy on his father?
I understand that an autopsy may sometimes be performed if doing so is useful to gain knowledge that may be used to prevent deadly diseases or sicknesses in other people. Refer to this M.Y. answer.
...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Rambam on the Gemara's Scientific and Historical authenticity
Where does the Rambam state that the non-Halachic parts of the Gemara - for instance, Agadata, Science etc - aren't to be taken literally or simply aren't factually correct?
8
votes
3answers
198 views
Is there any evidence that Chazal knew what caused eclipses?
Many ancient cultures believed that eclipses are caused by things other than syzygy. The Egyptians had Apophis. The Hindus had Rahu. (The interested reader can see more here.)
In light (ha) of the ...
6
votes
1answer
147 views
What kind of blood did the Nile turn into?
One of the ten plagues that Moses unleashes on Egypt in the Book of Exodus is to make the Nile river run red with blood (Exodus 7:20). My question is, is there any information, either in the Torah ...
5
votes
1answer
154 views
Source for the Earth being Tilted at the Time of the Flood
In Oorah's 2009 Shmorg video, one of the tracks is about Birchat Hachama, and at around the 10 minute mark, the narrator states the following (I'm paraphrasing):
The Sforno writes that before the ...
2
votes
0answers
59 views
I have a question about learning evolution [closed]
All my life I have attended Bais Yaakov. I am frum but for mental health issues I decided to take a break from Bais Yaakov, and am taking online courses. In my biology course evolution is taught as a ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
“Sound can be heard better at night then by day”- Rashi
Rashi writes in Masheches Beitzah 7b on the gemara about different cases of when we consider an egg found in a nest a fertilized or unfertilized egg. The gemara talks about a case when a hen can hear ...
3
votes
0answers
80 views
Maseches Beitzah 7a and science
In Maseches Beitzah 7a the gemara says that any animal that mates by day will give birth at day-this is talking about a chicken ,and any animal that mates by night gives birth at night, this is ...
4
votes
1answer
199 views
Responsa regarding gender selection for non-medical purposes
This October 2002 article in Haaretz refers to an Israeli Health Ministry decision to allow a family of Kohanim to select the gender of their children for non-medical reasons.
For the first time in ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
How did they breathe during the plague of darkness?
Despite some great answers to The Plague of Darkness and Plague of darkness: if he was standing, he was unable to sit? I still have a question.
If the darkness was so thick that they couldn't move, ...
6
votes
1answer
247 views
Has CRISPR (editing the genome) for humans been discussed in halachic literature?
Has the use of CRISPR in editing the human genome been discussed in halachic literature? I know that PGD and its ability to allow parents to choose the gender of their child have been under discussion ...
-1
votes
2answers
140 views
Did Rashi know about radio waves?
My father told me that he was taught a Rashi in school that suggests that Rashi knew about radio waves.
What Rashi might hint to this conclusion?
2
votes
3answers
285 views
What is the status of a fetus before it emerges?
Sanhedrin 72B says a fetus becomes a person when its head emerges. But I have heard that abortion is justified based on the permission to kill a rodef (deadly pursuer). But it seems to me that, ...
5
votes
1answer
274 views
Reconciling Young Earth Creationism With Racial Diversity
I'm wondering whether the Young Earth Creationism can be reconciled with the racial diversity found on the globe. How, can a young Earth accomedate, in a manner consistent with science, Noah's ...
