I’m still waiting for SJ to explain why Zionism is like Catholicism in a more clear fashion.
AAQ – Sorry for the delay. Obviously we don’t actually know what occurred during those three days, but Rambam saying Avraham did so is something Rambam would write. However, it’s really ancillary to my point, which was (and still is) that SJ doesn’t have a clue about Rambam – who was very consistent with what he wrote.
Re Gemara: When you look at it, it is ancient case law that was frozen in time, along with ton of another related material. Nezikin does primarily consist of civil and criminal law. Again, that isn’t heresy and it doesn’t detract from what it is – the recorded details of our legal system and all the discussions of the highest courts and institutions at that time. What Pekak said is true – Sifrei Shu”t are practical applications of Halachik issues (which is why they are usually more interesting than Gemara itself).
You could indeed presume that if the Gemara was written down in the modern era, it would contain a ton about car accidents. That’s logical.