RABBI WEIN ON SEEING GENERATIONS

My two month old great grandson came to visit me on Saturday night last. He naturally brought his parents along for the visit but he was the honored guest, the center of all generational attention. He will not remember the visit, for memory kicks in later than does birth and unfortunately in many instances kicks out early before death. Nevertheless for great grandparents a visit from a member of the fourth generation of one’s family is an occasion of note and moment. Having grown up at a time when very few of my peers ever saw or knew a grandparent, it is truly miraculous to me that I have seen and know many of my great grandchildren. Life spans have lengthened considerably over the past decades of progress in medicine and health care. And, the results are reflected in the ability to see and know generations in one’s family in a manner undreamt of in the generation of my parents.