n>Three basic options confront any person trying to exert some control over uncontrollable danger: science, superstition, and prayer. The strategy that most successfully removes the danger may not be the one that most effectively allays fear, and the best overall choice depends largely on the quality of the science. The talmudic rabbis, as piously monotheistic as they were, offer a spectrum of approaches in their discussion of avoiding the common perils of crossing a river. Read Full Article »