The Jewish Time Machine

Here's a statement that may date me even more than my shock of prematurely white hair: I really, really, really love calendars. Remember calendars? Not the kind that pop up on your phone, or on an app, but the real-life objects? My favorite had "Far Side" comic strips, one for each day of the year, and as you flipped the pages you were treated to another small dose of cows planning mischief together. It was enough to make the passage of time feel, if not altogether delightful, at least not painful. Which, really, is the point the Talmud's Tractate Rosh Hashanah is trying to make.