Once, in a very small town, in a very small synagogue, a very big problem arose! A new Torah scroll cover was donated to the synagogue. All the congregants struggled with all their might to fit the Torah scroll inside its new cover. No matter how strong or clever the congregants were, they could not fit the scroll inside. The frustration in the very small synagogue quickly spread to each very small home in the very small town. No one could think of a solution, so they called upon their very wise sage.

He stroked his beard and said, “If the cover doesn’t fit on the Torah scroll, we must cut down the Torah scroll so that it fits the cover.”

The townspeople celebrated thinking their problem had been solved.

Comment:

Ridiculous? Of course! The cover must be altered. This theme is similar to the saying of the post-war Chassidic leaders, “We will not modify the Torah to fit America. We will tailor America to fit the Torah.”

“Without tradition new things die.”