Questions tagged [science]
The science tag has no usage guidance.
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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
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1answer
69 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?
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2answers
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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 ...
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2answers
103 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 ...
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1answer
31 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 ...
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0answers
62 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, ...
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1answer
62 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 ...
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0answers
97 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 ...
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0answers
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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.
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1answer
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Different counts of the 613 (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 ...
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3answers
128 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 ...
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1answer
69 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 ...
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1answer
116 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?
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2answers
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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 ...
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0answers
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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 ...
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2answers
122 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 ...
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2answers
212 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?
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0answers
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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 ...
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1answer
74 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 ...
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1answer
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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.
...
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1answer
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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?
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3answers
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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 ...
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1answer
118 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 ...
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1answer
118 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 ...
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0answers
55 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 ...
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2answers
88 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 ...
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0answers
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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 ...
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1answer
171 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 ...
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4answers
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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, ...
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1answer
177 views
CRISPR for humans
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 ...
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2answers
137 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?
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3answers
277 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, ...
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1answer
255 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 ...
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1answer
74 views
Books on science and Torah in Hebrew
Can anyone recommend books in Hebrew that address the topic of science and Torah?
The types of books that I'm looking for are ones that address the interplay between science and Torah including topics ...
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2answers
275 views
Why is nature not studied in the way the Rambam recommends?
Considering the Rambam recommends observing nature to see the divine wisdom therein and develop a love of God, if so, why is this not encouraged in the yeshivas with this outlook?
The few yeshivos ...
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1answer
81 views
What type of doctor is referred to in Breishit 50:2?
Breishit (Gen.) 50:2 uses the term רופאים, which I translate as "doctors". However, within this context, these doctors are embalming Jacob's body. They are not performing the task of healing someone ...
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1answer
265 views
Is Science/Scientism a form of Idolatry?
In the scientific community (and much of the secular world) there are many who adopt an outlook whereby one need not believe anything which cannot be demonstrated using the scientific method. i.e. it ...
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3answers
120 views
why evidence for common ancestry evolution? [closed]
In genesis it implies that creatures were created independently from the ground according to their kind *ex. "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kind, cattle and creeping ...
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2answers
140 views
Hint for Big Bang in Genesis
Has anyone found a hint for the Big Bang event postulated by modern cosmology, i.e. that the Universe expanded from a "point," in the Genesis account?
Some kind of torah code or other sort of hint. I ...
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1answer
102 views
How was the world created through the even shesiya?
In Yoma 54, it says the world was created with the Even Shesiya (primordial rock).
Is this to be taken literally and if yes, do we have details into this process?
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1answer
78 views
Does Graphology Have Any Basis In Judaism? [duplicate]
Graphology is the theory/science that one's middos can be deduced from one's handwriting.
Is there any source for such ideas from the rishonim or earlier?
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0answers
20 views
Has cryonics been treated in Rabbinic literature? [duplicate]
Has it been treated by rabbinic literature? If yes, what does it say about cryonics?
1
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1answer
55 views
Seeking a particular book on Science vs. Halacha
About 15 years ago, I recall that there was a book put out by the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists. It was titled something like "Challenge - Science against Halacha" or something similar. I ...
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2answers
140 views
Role of the soul in living things
Are the bodies of living things (bacteria, plant, animals, humans) running like a purely physical machine or are they coupled with some kind of spiritual soul to breathe life into this machine.
Our ...
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2answers
159 views
Did God create life forms containing infinite wisdom
In Tehilim King David said (92:5): "How great are Your works, Lord, how deep your thoughts!"
According to Chazal (Torah sources, ideally Talmud, Midrash but can be Rishonim also) does this mean God ...
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2answers
256 views
Are GMOs Kosher?
Currently taking a biology class in which genetically modified foods were discussed. Some of the plants had DNA from non kosher animals added into the plant genes. How does this impact the kashrus of ...
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0answers
28 views
Status of a functional Male with hidden functional Female internal organs [duplicate]
I've found out this condition where a Male has a certain genetic condition where the primitive female organs, present in every foetus, are not absorbed and develop as "usual".
A documented case in the ...
5
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1answer
115 views
Searching for a story with the Rav's comment about the scientist
I am trying to find a story I read once concerning Rav Soleveitchik. Please forgive me if I am remembering it incorrectly.
The basic story was a comparison between two Jewish scientists, one ...
3
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1answer
149 views
Status of person with two different DNAs
Well, simple this is not. Some people can be made of "two" different DNAs. It basically happens that two embryos fuse making one health adult with two different DNAs, also known as a chimera.
If such ...
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3answers
199 views
Did the Rabbi just back us into a corner?
In the following quote, the Khazar king questions the Rabbi's belief in a (relatively) young world starting with Adam. The Rabbi concedes that the question posed 'would weaken my belief', but argues ...
