Another doomsday is lurking before us. A lot of speculation, controversy, and talk have come up regarding the end of the Mayan Calendar. As with most prophesies of the sort, there will be a large number of people swayed by convincing information found in the infinite world-wide-web regardless if the information is legitimate or not.
I first learned of the Mayan calendar ending on a trip to Mexico when I was a young teenager. The date, December 21, 2012, seemed like an eternity away, but, with the kind of mathematical accuracy this long gone civilization had, was such a thing plausible? I found myself curious and wondered what would actually happen, but it’s not something I ever lost sleep about. I’ve lived through a few doomsdays: The first Rapture in 1994, Nostradamus’ August 1999, Y2K, The second Rapture in 2011 and now the Mayan Calendar coming to an end.
It’s a bit ridiculous when you think of it in terms of a calendar ending. We don’t go into a frenzied panic when the Gregorian calendar ends each year, so why all the fuss about the Mayan Calendar ending?
Every culture has their doomsday prophesy. Did you know the Hebrew Calendar is supposed to end, too? We’re currently in the year 5773 and according to the Talmud we have 227 years left until everything will come to a close. The details of which are extremely vague, of course. Then after the year 6,000 we’re supposed to have 1,000 years of rest; some call it 1,000 years of Shabbat which doesn’t sound that bad, actually.
Can you imagine what it will be like 226 years from now? Will there be the same kind of conspiracy like there is today? Just picture it, observant Jews will argue and debate about it for years and years prior! Or perhaps they’ll be too busy while beginning to make arrangements for the everlasting Shabbat by preparing vats of cholent and plenty of challah ahead of time. How will they agree on what to do when the calendar comes to an end? Will we light Shabbat candles every night or just once marking the first night of many to come? …All very important questions.
This actually might be something to look forward to! We’ll leave all the chores, work, and business left to the goyim and the rest of us will relax, lounge, reflect on life, and more importantly we’ll eat and enjoy the company of our family. Let’s not get a head of ourselves, though… We still need to get through a few more prophesies first!! This coming December 21, I’ll be welcoming Shabbat with friends and family. We’ll be sure to toast the end of the Mayan Calendar with some tequila and start planning for the 1,000 years of Shabbat.
This author is a writer on www.worldofjudaica.com.
