Questions
and Answers
Question
from Linda Dangoor-Khalastchi:
How can we reconcile the Jewish year 5762, said to be "to
the Creation", with the claim of scientists that the
universe came into being 15 billion years ago?
Answer
by Naim Dangoor:
The rabbinic belief is that our civilisation is destined
to last 6,000 years when it will come to a cataclysmic end,
and a new sequence will start all over again! The explanation
is that there have been many such phases before. There is,
however, no biblical foundation to this theory.
The
Book of Genesis deals with two distinct events – one
is God’s creation of the universe out of nothing for
which the Hebrew word "bara" is used, and the
second event is the creation of mankind from dust of the
earth for which the Hebrew word "yatzar" is used.
It records what could be remembered of the story of Adam’s
generations, inventor of agriculture, and thus becoming
Father of our civilisation. The Jewish year is arrived at
by adding together all that was remembered of the generations
of Adam. However, the invention of agriculture took place,
not 5672 years ago, but a little earlier, 9000 years ago.
It
is notable that the Jewish year is denoted by Jews "layetsera"
by which is meant "to (the creation of) Adam"
in contrast to the the latin term "Anno Mundi"
meaning "to (the creation of) the world".
That
figure 4004 BCE was worked out by Bishop Ussher who was
obviously reading a Greek translation of the Bible. He gave
creation as 6 pm on Friday autumn equinox, being the end
of the week of creation rather than its beginning at the
time of the Big Bang. The Hebrew Bible gives the day as
morning to morning and not as evening to evening.
Further
question by Linda:
Thanks for the information, but isn’t it presumtuous
of Jews to date our calendar to Adam as if he belongs to
us exclusively, whereas he is supposed to be the Father
of all Mankind?
Further
answer:
Adam is mentioned only in the Jewish Bible and in no other
contemporary or earlier source. Our Bible clearly shows
Adam as the Father of all mankind which confirms our beliefs
in the brotherhood of all mankind without distinction of
race, colour, creed or language, an idea that many reactionary
people are unwilling to accept even today. This clearly
shows the greatness of our traditions.
See
Article "In the Footsteps of Adam" elsewhere in
this issue.
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