[Avodah] The Shape of the Tavah

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 03:58:19PM +0000, Professor L. Levine via Avodah wrote:
: The following is from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis 6:14
:> In any event, a tavah is shaped like a
:> box or chest, unlike a boat. It is wide at the bottom, tapering toward
:> the top, the reverse of the shape of a boat; for it is not designed to cut
:> through the water, but to be borne on the surface of the water.

: Clearly the ark that was built and is shown at https://arkencounter.com/
: has no relationship to the one Noach built.

True; it's just the reconstruction of some Xians, given the text and
the assumption that it was build not to capsize.

RSRH's teivah is his own reconstruction. He could be wrong too.

Borne on the surface of the water means all the weight is above the water,
including the center of gravity. As it bobs on the water, the fulcrum is
where the bottom hits the water. When the center of gravity is above the
fulcrum, balance is difficult. Just compare keeping a broom veticle when
you hang the end of the handle between two fingers with the broom below
with keeping it balanced standing on your palm. It would be another neis
for Noach et al not to have capsized.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
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