A small group of musicians passed through city and played a few pieces of beautiful music in a place that was equal distance from the homes of two wealthy individuals in the city. These two individuals got into a heated argument about whom the musicians were playing for. Each one claimed that the musicians were playing for him and not for the other guy. Not being able to resolve the matter, they went off to the local sage, Rabbi Yezekiel Landau, for his judgment in this matter. Each presented his case and then, as customary, each gave the Rabbi and an equal but significant donation in appreciation for the time that was made available for them. They eagerly weighted the verdict, each one sure of his position. The Rabbi mulled this over and finally called them in. He said, “I have come to a conclusion, after the largesse which you have bestowed upon me, that the musicians were not playing for either of you; they were actually playing for me!”
“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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