Synagogue Sermon
Questioning Tradition (1969)
In the revolutionary times in which we live, all tradition is called into question, whether religious, social, political, or academic. It is therefore no surprise that this challenge affects Judaism, which places great value on tradition as such. This emphasis is especially noticeable during Passover, and most especially on the Seder night. The Seder is full of tradition; every action, every motion, manifests centuries of sacred recollection. Minhag is even more evident during the Seder, than Din. For instance: the washing of the hands before the karpas and the korekh are a memory of ancient Temple tradition. The inclining on the left side is an ancient Roman custom, the sign of aristocracy when the Seder was formulated, which no longer is practiced nowadays; but it is a tradition, a lovely one, and an important one.The “do your own thing” generation is probably quite unhappy with such a ceremonial meal overladen with apparently irrelevant customs, whether din or minhag. They question tradition, and they no doubt reject or at least challenge the entire Seder procedure and the traditionalism that it symbolizes. I have no doubt that last night and tonight, in thousands of Jewish homes where the Seder is performed, many a young man or woman, part of the “now” generation, will participate with an inner perplexity and impatience: What does all this mean for me anyway?Well, how shall we react to this questioning of tradition? How shall we orient ourselves toward this new phenomenon in Jewish and general life?First, let us never be perturbed by questions. They are characteristic of an alert and intelligent mind. As Jews, we welcome not only questions of inquiry, but also those of challenge. The “Four Questions” are known, in Yiddish, not as die fier shavlos, quests for information, but as die fier koshes – four challenges or refutations.But perhaps more important, we should remember that it is not by any means a new phenomenon. Every “new” generation questions the old – a…
