Tradition, TraditionDuring 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 homebound 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."
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