A recent study of consumer attitudes in America declared that there is a boredom boom. "We are bored despite living in remarkable times," says market research concern Yankelovich Partners, noting that last year 71 percent of the respondents yearned for more novelty in their lives, up from 67 percent just a year earlier. "Just as a drug user develops a tolerance and needs larger doses to achieve the same effect, so too have we developed a tolerance to amazing events," at least that is how the market research firm sees things.

Forgetting Mitzvos

Indeed HaKodosh Boruch Hu in His Torah promised us that it would not be forgotten by His children, that the Torah would remain with am Yisroel forever. This, however, refers only to the Torah itself. In regard to the Torah's mitzvos, Yeshaya the novi decreed a gezeira and inflicted a punishment of, "Since this people draw near and with their mouths and with their lips honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear towards Me is as a commandment of men learned by rote, therefore behold I will proceed to do more wonders against this people, wonder upon wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden" (Yeshaya 29:13-14).

The holy gaon, Reb. Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz was born in Lemberg in approximately the year 5230 (1470). His father R' Avrohom Halevi was dayan in Prague, Cracow and lastly in Lemberg. R' Yeshaya learnt with his father and with the gaon R' Shlomo Ben Reb Yehudah Leib zt"l, better known as the Maharshal Hasheini, the second Maharshal. He also learnt with the Maharam of Lublin, zt"l.