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History, Prophecy, Sages & Schmucks: Further Adventures in Identity Politics
Looking once again upon our zany misadventures in identity politics, I introduce myself as an elected Democratic Precinct Committeeperson, born on 15 Elul, 5720, which falls during this Year of the Rat three days ahead of the Gregorian calendar birthdate on my drivers license.
Clearly, since not every nation, people and tribe divides its years into months in exactly the same way, history can be subjective and dates may be arbitrary. Once upon a time, a fierce surprise military attack was launched by Egypt and Syria on 9 Ramadan, 1393, into Israel on Yom Kippur, 5734, in what was named by most of the world as the October War of 1973. Not long after the second ceasefire of that war, my family, our friends and I observed my becoming bar mitzvah on the new moon of Cheshvan. This is my multicultural perspective of a profound moment in history, upon which it still remains to be seen how significant it all has been in the greater story of human civilization.
Language is not only a means of communication but also a way of thinking. The Hebrew calendar in its own language is called luach, from tablet, something with which to write upon to count days, months and mark history. The Muslim calendar is called in its mother tongue hijra, from departure or exodus, used in reference to the Prophet…