Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash
their hands before they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of
God for the sake of your tradition?
His congregation suggested that he consult a housebound 98-year-old man, who was one of
the original founders of their temple. The rabbi hoped the elderly man could tell him what the
actual temple tradition was, whether standing or sitting for this important prayer. So, he went
to the nursing home with a representative of each faction of the congregation.
The one whose followers stood during Shema said to the old man, "Is the tradition to stand
during this prayer?"
The old man answered, "No, that is not the tradition."
The one whose followers sat asked, "Is the tradition to sit during Shema?"
The old man answered, "No, that is not the tradition."
"But," the rabbi said to the old man, "the congregants fight all the time, yelling at each other
about whether . . ."
The old man interrupted, exclaiming, "THAT is the tradition!"
What unhealthy traditions are we still holding on to?
(Matthew 15.2-3
NRSV)
During a service at an old synagogue in Eastern Europe, when the Shema prayer was said,
half the congregregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started
yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand
up . . .
Dear God, may the traditions I follow bring me closer to you, and help me to get rid of the ones
that don't. Amen.
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