[Avodah] Days and floods

[David Riceman]

RMB:

<<"Yom" not meaning day has millenia of history>>

"Yom" is defined in context to mean "light"; see Breishis 1:5 "vayikra 
elokim la'or yom".  Of course one of the exegetical cruxes of the entire 
chapter is that God's definitions are often ignored in the text ....

RMB:

<<But from a process and acceptability point of view, my problem is with

the creation of new peshatim where there is no TORAH reason to do so. I
find that kind of force fitting to another discipline beyond my personal
range of acceptibility. (Meaning that it doesn't even feel to me like
"a different but valid shitah".)>>

See RAK's Handbook of Jewish Thought vol 1 p. 145 item 7:75 and the sources he cites.  IIRC I pointed out in the previous go around that this is a machlokes rishonim, elaborated in great detail in Sefer Igros Kenaos (which RAK fails to cite), which contains the letters concerning the first Maimonidean controversy.  I think all of us neglected the opinion of Sa'adyah.

David Riceman