The passage we’re looking at today comes from chapter 6, and it's all about Noah and the flood. But it's not just a retelling of the familiar story. It's about marking time, about recognizing the turning points of a cataclysmic event and turning them into something sacred.
"And on the new moon of the fourth month the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed."
Imagine the sheer terror of the flood! Then, finally, a moment of hope. The "mouths of the depths" – the sources of the relentless water – are sealed. This wasn't just a random date; it was a turning point worthy of remembrance.
But the story doesn't stop there, does it?
"And on the new moon of the seventh month all the mouths of the abysses of the earth were opened, and the waters began to descend into them."
Three months later… the opposite happens! The waters begin to recede. It's like a cosmic sigh of relief. According to the Book of Jubilees, this, too, deserves recognition. It's a moment of transition, a shift from destruction to… well, what? Hope?
And then, another three months.
"And on the new moon of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen, and Noah was glad."
Land! Solid ground! After all that time adrift, clinging to life, the sight of the mountaintops must have been overwhelming. Can you even imagine the joy?
So, what does Noah do? He doesn't just breathe a sigh of relief and move on.
"And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for ever, and thus are they ordained."
He makes these dates – these new moons of the fourth, seventh, and tenth months – into feasts, into zikkaron, memorials. These aren't just historical markers; they are sacred times, moments to remember and reflect.
"And they placed them on the heavenly tables, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial,"
The Book of Jubilees is saying that these dates aren’t just earthly observances. They're inscribed "on the heavenly tables," suggesting a cosmic significance. Each memorial lasts for thirteen weeks, creating a rhythm, a pattern in the year.
Why this emphasis on a specific calendar? Well, the Book of Jubilees, written during the Second Temple period, advocates for a solar calendar of 364 days, as opposed to the lunar calendar more commonly used. This calendar, with its precise divisions and fixed feasts, was seen by the authors as divinely ordained and essential for maintaining order and holiness. : turning points, both terrifying and hopeful, marked and remembered. It makes you wonder: What turning points in your life deserve to be marked? What moments of fear, relief, or joy could be transformed into something more, something sacred, by simply acknowledging them? What "heavenly tables" are we writing on with our lives?