It is told of the sage called the
Chofetz Chaim that he once had to go to a Czarist official and plead for relief
from a particularly harsh decree against the Jewish people. Since the Chofetz
Chaim spoke no Russian and the aristocratic official spoke no Yiddish, an
interpreter stood waiting. Once permitted to speak, the Chofetz Chaim delivered
his message with all the feeling and sincerity that emanated from a heart as
pure as his. When he finished, a pregnant silence filled the room. Then the
interpreter started to speak: “Your honor, the Jew claims…” Whereupon the
Russian official raised his hand and said: “No translation will be necessary. I
understood.” As a result of this meeting, the decree was revoked. -
Rabbi Baruch Cohon
“Between 1305 and the early 1800’s. the House of Taxis ran a form of pony express service all over Europe…. Its couriers clad in blue and silver uniforms, crisscrossed the continent carrying messages between princes and generals, merchants and money lenders.” –Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave We may think we are the first generation consumed by rapid communication but we are not. Throughout our history it has been a priority. Of course, now in the 21 st century we must ask: are we better or worse for it?
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