arens%UCBKIM@ucbvax.UUCP (07/08/83)
From: arens@UCBKIM (Yigal Arens) [I sent this yesterday but I doesn't seem to have gotten out. My apologies to anyone seeing for the second time and not enjoying it -- Yigal] I'm sorry to disappoint Avi, but my father is no more of a believer than I am. It was a good theory while it lasted. I'm also sorry to disappoint him by being reasonably well versed in (Jewish) religious matters. Avi is right about the (over) generalization involved in the use of the term "Orthodox Judaism". Clearly I was referring only to certain subgroups. As the PS to my original message made explicit, I was only referring to one of the two types of orthodox government supported schools in Israel. There is no argument that Maimonides' theory of planetary motion was incorrect. The fact I was pointing out was that it is still being taught from government published textbooks in government supported religious schools. Avi doesn't appear to dispute this, and this was the thrust of my message. I said nothing in my article about the 19 year cycle of lunar years, or about synchronizing the two calendars. Avi is attacking a straw man in this respect. The holiday I mentioned does exist, although it's name escapes me at the moment (all I remember is that it has the word "sun" (Chamah) in it). I have never received a direct message from Avi Gross. I know nothing at all about Aspartame. Yigal Arens UC Berkeley (soon USC)