From the beginning of time generations have "advanced" the state of mankind with "modern" conveniences and "time saving" devices. People have never been satisfied with the "way things are" and so they invented new and improved ways of attending to their needs. The link between the generations was the transmission of information from father to son and mother to daughter from grandparent to grandchild-- a continuous chain.

     Perhaps it is the speed at which we live, the shrinking planet which requires each of us to keep thousands of disjointed facts in our memory banks or perhaps it is the breakdown of the family unit--but people today--more than ever before--are growing up in a vacuum--severed from the family history that preceded their entry on the scene. The effect is a national amnesia that is very unsettling. In fact, society in general has shown great interest recently in "discovering and documenting family roots".

     The Torah teaches that the word "V'Hayah" --"and it will be"-- signifies happiness. The interesting thing is "Hayah" is past tense. The nature of Biblical grammar is that the one letter "V" reverses the meaning from past tense to future. Simply stated the future is happy if it is based on a firm foundation of the lessons of the past. We must never let the pressures of day to day living break our links to the past or our links to the future.

      Today rather than "kill" some time use the break in activity to gain knowledge of your roots by visiting with a parent, grandparent or elderly neighbor. Talk about how life used to be. Spend time with your children and grandchildren--not at the amusement park or in front of an electronic entertainment device--but talking about what life was like when you were their age and how things have changed.

  Whoever you are you are a link to the past and a link to the future. Discuss your position on the chain. This simple way to fill your time will give everyone concerned firm ground to stand on in this fast moving world.

DID YOU KNOW THAT
It is customary not to eat meat or to drink wine on the night following the fast of Tisha B'Av or on the day following until one prays arbeet. The reason for the delay of one day is that the enemy entered the Mikdash on the Ninth of Av late in the afternoon and set fire to our Temple. The flames burned throughout the next day - hence the custom to refrain from meat and wine on the 10th of Av. Sefaradim wash and shave and do laundry on the night following the fast. Ashkenazim delay until the night following the 10th of Av. Source: Hazon Ovadiah, The For Fasts, p. 413.7
 

CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE

     If a person sees affliction come upon him, he should examine his ways. If he has examined them and they are not lacking, he should attribute his suffering to disruption of Torah study. Berachot 5a