Hello.



Chazal did not know nor understand the cycle of blood in the human body nor the causes of menstruation. They thought that menstrual blood is just like any other blood. The process of ovulation was unknown to them. As their “holy” way, they did not hesitate to make up a reality without examination or investigation; worse than that they ruled practical halacha upon their errors in reality.



For more detail, see Pamphlet 7.



We will cite for you, briefly, the mistakes Chazal made, or more accurately, Chazal’s way of making up reality from an exegesis of verses:



And here is Chazal’s suggestion to one who wants a male child: he should have relations and then do it again, as is said, “a woman who brings forth seed,” if the woman climaxes first she gives birth to a boy; a man who climaxes first sires a girl (Niddah 28a). It is clear that they erred. The gender of the child is determined by the chromosomes in the ovum and sperm cells and the manner of sexual intercourse has no relationship to the matter.

Chazal even explained that a woman who is pregnant can be impregnated! In Tractate Ketubot 39a, “Three women may use cotton wool (as a form of contraception), and they are: a minor, a pregnant woman, and a lactating woman, etc. A pregnant woman lest her fetus become like a flat-fish.” Rashi comments that if she were to be impregnated with a second fetus, the second would reduce the form of the first until it resembled a flat-fish. They did not understand that during pregnancy there is no ovulation and an additional pregnancy is impossible.



Sincerely,



Daat Emet

Dear David,



Religious people, who accept their rabbis words totally, with no debate, must turn to the vista of secrets and internal natures.

But what can we say when the Talmudic suggestion is practical, here in this world? The suggestion to have sex twice so the fetus will be male is not a virtual suggestion.

Unless, of course, the practical suggestions of Chazal are matters of secrets, and if so, then all the halachot and commandments are matters of the “internal nature” and not practical instruction.



N.B. We are sorry we cannot answer all responses and questions; there is not enough time.



Sincerely,



Daat Emet

Dear David,



Though I don’t see any room for discussion, in light of your pronouncement that you can see a practical suggestion as giving spiritual aid (see the essay Dealing with the contradictions between Torah and reason), I will quote the Sages’ practical advice for siring sons: “R. Isaac citing R. Ammi stated: If the woman emits her semen first she bears a male child; if the man emits his semen first she bears a female child; for it is said, ‘If a woman emits semen and bear a man-child’…Raba stated: One who desires all his children to be males should cohabit twice in succession.”

(Rashi on “cohabit twice in succession” — from the arousal of the first cohabitation she will ejaculate first during the subsequent cohabitation.) Niddah 31a-b.



Sincerely,



Daat Emet