CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
8. Old and New Customs
QUESTION: My Reform Congregation has introduced a wide variety of rituals which the previous generation did not use. Some members of the older generation feel that this casts aspersions on their practice of Judaism. Need they adopt the new rituals and practices if they do not feel comfortable with them? (Florence Stern, Buffalo NY)ANSWER: Minhagim have changed continually through our history. Customs were dropped by congregations when they were no longer considered appropriate while others were adopted. We find reflections of this in discussions about the use of piyutim, other prayers, melodies, opening the ark, etc. in synagogue services. Some have always insisted that minhagim be continued while others felt that change was appropriate. When the community made a decision nothing prevented individuals from continuing in the older manner; it became problematic only when such an individual led the public service. In some communities the congregation was tolerant and permitted such variations and in others it refused to ask such people who were unwilling to follow the new minhagim to lead services (Tur and Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 68 and commentaries; Yad Hil Tefilah 1.9; Isaac Unna “Über den Minhag” Jeshurun Vol 10 pp 463 ff; L. Zunz Die Ritus pp 21 ff; H. J. Zimmels Ashkenazim and Sephardim pp 99 ff; I. Elbogen Der Jüdische Gottesdienst pp 9 ff; Samuel de Medina Responsa Orah Hayim #35; Hayim Halberstam Divrei Hayim II 8; Eliezer Deutsch Peri Hasadeh #35; Moses Sofer Hatam Sofer Orah Hayim #15,16; Joseph Saul Nathanson Shoel Umeshiv III 1 #247; Jacob Ettlinger Binyan Zion #122; L. Löw Ben Hanania Vol 9 pp 381 ff; Joseph David Azulai Yosef Ometz #20). Customs were questioned most frequently when the nature of the community itself changed; this was usually due to the arrival of newcomers who brought their own minhagim and sought to establish them in the synagogue which they found. Normally the original inhabitants succeeded in defending their customs against the new settlers and this invariably led to the establishment of a second synagogue. In our Reform communities a change in mood has led to the reestablishment of certain minhagim while others have been dropped. We should permit the older generation to continue in their fashion both publicly and privately. Neither way is “right”; both the old and the new represent noble paths of religious expression. For example, it is our custom now to recite the Torah blessings in Hebrew, but if an older member recites them in English it is perfectly acceptable. In periods of transition, unnecessary strife may result unless tolerance and understanding is shown by both generations. We should make the changes which express our mood while continuing to recognize the validity of practices of a former generation.December 1990
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