The Approaching Year 6000
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sually a History book, by definition, presents the past. It is different with a history which determines the course of the future. That is the uniqueness of the Jews. It is an audacious claim, but in our case, comments author and attorney Darrell M. Zaslow, that is the fact of the matter. Jewish history has an historic past and future purpose. We know the beginning of history and have a sense of the ultimate future. Only the details remain to be unfolded. The Approaching Year 6000, Zaslow’s History of the Jews just published, makes the story enjoyably fast and simple, yet profoundly meaningful and insightful. “It is so obvious in history, the proverbial Hand of Hashem; that’s why I wrote the book” said Zaslow. Technical writer Staney Fishkind, writer of award winning technical and management proposals, commented on the new book. “The author ‘speaks to you’ and draws you in to turning the next page, then draws you to the next event. If you were to pick one Jewish history book, Y6K is the hands down winner! Even if you had a shelf full of Jewish history books, Y6K goes to the head of the line!” Y6K refers to the Year 6000, the Talmudic reference [Sanhedrin 97A] to the length of human history. We are now at the year 5777. Readers who obtained advanced copies of Zaslow’s book have offered enthusiastic comment, indicating the uniqueness of the publication. Rabbi Joseph (Mrs. Masha) Katz, reviewer of the first copy off the press, remarked “it’s just astounding, what you’ve done… a way of looking at history which is completely unique... this book reads like a good novel, true history at its best.” Zaslow said he appreciated the interest and depth of comments offered by readers. Especially gratifying, said Zaslow, are the haskamot to the book offered by prominent rabbis of the Baltimore community, needing no introduction to the readers. Rabbi Tzvi Teichman and Rabbi Moshe Hauer each offered their approbation. Their letters, said Zaslow, are themselves a slice of Jewish History, offered by leaders of our generation in this time and place. Rabbi Teichman graciously offered his comments: It was with great anticipation and joy that I received your long awaited project, A History of the Jews. Having been privileged to be inspired over the many years of our friendship by your creative, insightful, and eye opening presentations of Jewish history, I longed to see the integration of those delectable morsels into one book. You take the reader on a virtual roller coaster ride through history, experiencing the peaks and dips of that marvelous journey through your impassioned, brilliant, and erudite observations. Your skilled encapsulation of this wide swath of time and experience is what makes the travel ever Continued on page 20