Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Bri'at HaOlam

Bri'at HaOlam is a relative concept. We count once every seven years from the time of Mechirat Yosef. We count every ten years, nowadays, in the "Galut count" starting at Galut Mitzrayim. We count every twelve years since year five. We count every fifteen years since Chaim Vital. We count every eighteen years since the Ramchal. We count every nineteen years since Arizal. We count every twenty-eight years since the beginning of Bayit Sheni, from Ezra HaSofer let us say. We count every sixty-four years from Yetziat Mitzrayim, from Moshe Rabbeinu. We count the Yovel year since Yehoshua. We count every 35.75 years since year 5500, commanded by the GR"A. We count every 29 years since the rise of homo sapiens, 2^14 times 29 years ago. Especially we count every 29 years since 2^7 times 29 years ago, since Avraham. And especially especially, we count every 29 years since the death of Rashbi, 2^6 times 29 years ago. And especially especially especially, we count every 29 years since the death of Arizal. And, finally, "we count" 2^14 times 29^2 kiloyears (i.e. every 841,000 years) since the beginning of the expansion of the Universe, 13.779 billion years ago. And especially we count every 29^2 kiloyears since the earliest life, 2^12 times 29^2 kiloyears ago. And especially especially, we count, and we count, and so forth, and so forth.

All these counts have a similar status. Every count may be called "MiBri'at HaOlam." It is a matter of which Olam is referred to. However, none of the above counts starts at year 1, or 0, in the common counting of the years. The cycle of 75 since year 1 is the only one! Did we stumble upon the reason for saying that the common year count is MiBri'at HaOlam? The Olam that was created could be called the world of Chesed. The world of the right. HaMevin Yavin.