Others are more concerned about technology than theology. They say that a failure of computer systems worldwide to recognize the change of the millennium could have disastrous consequences for individuals, communities and the environment. They are keeping lots of books, especially a Bible, close by. Waskow may be one of a small number of Jewish voices calling for other Jews to take such precautionary measures, but he's not alone. Rabbi Jeff Glickman, spiritual leader of Reform Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor, Conn., asked referring to the several examples of potential disaster that he could cite.
Banks interact with thousands of other institutions every day.
If any garbage comes in from any of them they may have to stop and verify every transaction. Both the rabbis, however, have gotten a weaker response than they had hoped. Still, the two rabbis aren't the only ones hedging their millennial bets. For his part, Landes said that even if the calendar changes over from 1999 to 2000 without incident, debate and fear will not end. I don't think it's intelligent to assume that this will all decrease next year,'' he said.