Temple Traditions
During a service at an old synagogue in Eastern Europe, when the Shema
prayer was said, half the congregants 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.
The rabbi, learned as he was in the Law and commentaries, didn't know
what to do. 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 would be able to
tell him what the actual temple tradition was, 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 said, "Then the tradition is to sit during
Shema!"
The old man answered, "No, that is not the tradition.
"Then the rabbi said to the old man, "But the congregants fight all the
time, yelling at each other about whether they should sit or stand..."
The old man interrupted, exclaiming, "THAT is the tradition!"
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