A question for the Jews. Is there any significance to the Jewish year 6000? Sort of the beginning of 1,000 year sabbath?
Also, would you recommend a book that contains old Jewish legands, prophecies, or theories? I don't mean the Torah or Haftorah. I don't know how to describe better the collection that I have heard exists.
Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
According to one view, 6000 will be the end of the world as we know it, to be preceded by the coming of the Messiah. But while this is a popularly known view, it's not particularly authoritative; in fact, making such calculations is officially highly discouraged. I'd take it with a large grain of kosher salt.
(The problem with many Jewish legends -- many of which are in the Midrash and the Aggadic portions of the Talmud -- is that they tend to be quoted as if they were meant to be taken literally, which generally isn't the case at all.)
Posted by enochville (Member # 8815) on :
Thanks Shmuel!
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Also, to make things more confusing, there are three ways of counting the Jewish year. The one that we use today is off by two years from the one in texts such as Seder Olam Rabba. According to that book, the current year isn't 5766, but rather 5864.
Posted by enochville (Member # 8815) on :
starLisa: That is a 98 year difference. Did you mean it that way?
What is the third way?
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Sorry, 5766, rather than 5764. My bad.
Lisa
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Also, the 6000 figure has been rounded. Down. By several hundred years -- I forget exactly.
Posted by enochville (Member # 8815) on :
Where can I learn about that, rivka?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :