A Leap Of Time

Observed fact: More teens look at their phones to tell time than at their watches (if they even have on a watch). Telling time and time itself has always gone through subjective changes. The Jewish day starts at sunset because it says in the story of Creation, "It was evening, it was morning day X". The secular day starts at 12:00 a.m. or midnight (which to me doesn't really make sense). How we tell time has been influenced by many things. In Britian and America in the mid to late 1800's for example, the railroad revolutionized time with "time zones" and helped to foster standardized times for the whole country. People would set their clocks and watches to match the railroad's time instead of using each town or village's time. Whether it is told with a wind-up watch, a cellphone or the atomic clock, time has always been something humans measure but are never masters of. Our Jewish poets and liturgist understood it so well, namely that God is the Master of the Infinite of time and space, and we can for a moment be part of this amazing journey called life. What we make of this precious gift is how we treat each other, partner to make this world better, and stop (Shabbat) to become more aware of just how blessed we truly are. I am grateful for the leap day today. One more day of February, one more day to say thank you for family, friends, and life. Baruch Adonai, Yom Yom!