Q&A: Traditional
Traditional
Question
I come across a lot on the site here (not necessarily from the Rabbi) the term “traditional.” First of all, what is it—how is it defined, if it even has a definition? And secondly, does the Rabbi recognize it as having significance? Is there any value to it at all?
Answer
There are all kinds of types. We’re talking about a person who isn’t really committed to Jewish law, but does some of the practices. For him it’s a kind of folklore.
I don’t see any value in that. On the contrary, such a person sometimes knows his Master and rebels against Him, and is worse than an apikores who is coerced because he does not know. One can see instrumental value in it, since it helps preserve the tradition, and maybe his children will be better than he is. He also usually does not oppose religious people and Jewish law on the public level.
There are many traditional people who are secular in their outlook, and some may even be atheists,
but they preserve things that seem beautiful to them, or that shape identity, or are part of the tradition of what once was.