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Avie Walfish writes:
> (2) The scientific regularity of eclipses was known long before the time
> of Hazal - the Greek philosopher Thales already successfully predicted a
> solar eclipse, and Hazal were certainly well aware of the science of
> astronomy of their day. The idea of "siman ra" does not necessarily have
> to do with unpredictable events - the disappearance of the moon every
> month, according to the midrash (hullin 60b), requires God, kivyakhol,
to
> bring atonement for having reduced the size of the moon. Astronomical
> events - as well as other natural forces (see Berakhot 59a) - symbolize
> spiritual realities, sometimes benevolent and sometimes threatening.
A similar approach (in more homely language) was presented by the
Lubovitcher rebbe z"l (I recall it from an anthology of Likkute Sihot on
Shas, Massekhet Shabbat.)</HTML>
