Half of the congregation said one should sit,
the other half insisted one should stand.

Every time the Shema was recited
they shouted at each other,
“Sit down!” and “Stand up!”

The fighting became so bad that the congregation
was split in two,  each half contending that
they knew the tradition in that synagogue.

Finally, the rabbi decided to visit a one hundred year old
member of the synagogue who was living in a nursing home.
He took a delegation from each of the arguing sides with him
to see the oldest member of the “shul”.

“Now, tell us,” said the rabbi, “what is our tradition?”
“Should we stand during the Shema?”
“No,” said the old man. “That is not our tradition.”

“Well, then,” said the rabbi,
“ should we sit during the Shema?”
“No,” the old man, “that is not our tradition.”

“But we need to know what to do,” said the rabbi,

“because our congregation members
are fighting among each other.”

“That,” said the oldest member of the congregation,
“that is our tradition.” 

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have other sheep that are not of this flock.
I must bring them also.

They too will listen to my voice,
and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:16

"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out
demons in your name and we tried to stop him,
because he is not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said,

"for whoever is not against you is for you."
Luke 9:49-50