We are told of the Arizal, by his disciple R.
Hayyim Vital, that he was particular in paying his workers exactly on time, without delay. And if he did not have the money with which to pay these
wages, he would delay his afternoon prayer (minhah) until close to
sunset in order to search out a loan with which to make the payment. Only
afterwards would he hurriedly daven minhah. He would explain
himself by saying: “How can I pray to the Lord, may He be
blessed . . . , when such an important mitzvah is incumbent
upon me, and I have not carried it out?”
“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?
Comments