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<font size=3>At 12:10 PM 2/18/2010, Micha wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at
04:49:22PM -0500, Prof. Levine wrote:<br>
: The end of the post at <br>
:
<a href="http://parsha.blogspot.com/2009/06/do-gentiles-have-more-teeth-than-jews.html" eudora="autourl">
http://parsha.blogspot.com/2009/06/do-gentiles-have-more-teeth-than-jews.html</a>
<br>
: says,<br>
: <br>
: "But how can they [the gedolei Yiaroel] really judge this, when
they <br>
: likely would not recognize all the places that Chazal's statements
<br>
: diverge from science, and quite possibly are not familiar with all
<br>
: the relevant sources, not really caring that much about the <br>
: intersection until it becomes a hot-button issue? ...<br><br>
"They don't care that much about the intersection..." Now,
assume that's<br>
beshittah, and perhaps that's the answer to your question. The don't
see<br>
the need for a correspondane between reality and halakhah that
you're<br>
taking for granted.<br><br>
IOW, it's more relevent that Chazal said they have more (or fewer)<br>
teeth than whether or not they actually do.<br><br>
Tir'u baTov!<br>
-Micha</blockquote><br>
But many things in halacha depend upon a knowledge of science and
mathematics. You posted in my name all of the topics that R. Yehonasan
Eybeshutz listed as being important for Torah learning. There are
also the statements of the GRA about secular knowledge and its importance
for Torah. <br><br>
How can they ignore this? And, how could one think to ask anyone with
this attitude a sheila about something that requires scientific knowledge
for a full understanding of the issues involved? <br><br>
I have read that Reb Yisroel Salanter spent time in libraries researching
various topics. I believe that Reb Moshe Feinstein often asked experts
about facts related to medical and other issues. If they are not
concerned about reality, then what do they think they are doing?
Paskening for a "virtual" world!<br><br>
YL</font></body>
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