Rabbi Samuel ben Isaac taught in the name of Rabbi Samuel ben Eleazar: ‘The seven “vanities” mentioned in Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) correspond to the seven worlds that a man beholds. At age one, he’s like a king, seated in the litter while all hug and kiss him. At two and three he is like a pig, sticking his hands in the gutters. At ten he skips like a kid. At twenty he is like a horse, adorning himself and seeking a wife. Having married, he is like an ass, that is, the beast of burden. When he has had children he becomes brazen like a dog, in order to bring in bread and food…
“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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