THE TRADITION OF DIVISION
A young rabbi was dismayed to find a serious quarrel among members of his new congregation. During Friday services, half the participants stood up during one part of the proceedings while half remained seated. All decorum was lost as each side shouted at the other to conform. Members of each group insisted that theirs was the correct tradition. Seeking guidance, the young rabbi took a representative from each side to visit the synagogue’s founder, a 99 year old rabbi living in a nursing home. “Rabbi, isn’t it true that the tradition was always for the people to stand at this point in the service?” inquired the man from the standing-up side. “No, that was not the tradition,” the old man replied. “Then it is true the tradition is for people to stay seated?” asked the sitting-down representative. “No,” the rabbi said, “That was not the tradition.” “But rabbi,” cried the young rabbi, “what we have now is complete chaos; half…
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