Various nations and/or peoples have historically evolved different kinds of calendars.
The Ancient Romans counted time from the establishment of their capital city, which is designated as 1 A. U. (Anno Urbani [the Year of Our City]), correlating with 753 B. C. E.
Our Christian brethren, of course, begin their calendar with the supposed year of the birth of Jesus, fixed originally as 1 A. D. (Anno Domini [the Year of Our Lord])--and still the secular New Year's Day of the Western World.
The Moslem people have a calendar starting with Mohammed's flight (Hegira) to Medina (622 C. E.), which was established by them as 1 A. H. (Anno Hegira).
Unlike all these "parochial" calendars, only our Jewish calendar does not begin with some nationalist event. It starts with Creation, i. e., the beginning of time, which modern scholars call 1 A. M. (Anno Mundi [the Year of Our World]), as calculated originally by talmudic sages (A. Z. 9a).
And that, I would say, makes us--the Jewish people--more universal-minded than anyone else. We have a calendar which fixes time by a measure of "eternity"--above and beyond any historical event.
So, as we pray for a happy and healthy and peaceful New Year, 5784 Anno Mundi, let us keep in mind the entire
world, all of humanity, all peoples everywhere--including those who may follow calendars not addressed here.
And may all the children of God begin to dwell together in peace and harmony.
-Rabbi Murray Stadtmauer
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