<p>Dear Rabbi Apfel,</p> <p>I suggest you read a book titled Biopsies of the Bible in which the author explains that if the Torah is emmeth then it must be read through the lens emmeth, i.e. solid scientific facts. It seems you are solely relying on the science of the rabbis of the past to understand what the Torah of Moses has meant. The description of Biopsies of the Bible can be viewed on Amazon, or check out YouTube video Religion's skyfall in which the statelment of Rav Yosef on Berachoth 60a stating that one could still pray up to the fortieth gestational day to detemine the gender of a fetus is discussed.</p> <p>Jack H. Silvers</p>