Opinion

Published October 29, 2026 5:00am

In the words of that famous milkman, Tevye, “Tradition tells a man who he is and what God expects of him.” Wise words, because we’re all standing on the rooftops, fiddling away like crazy, wanting to be recognized, win attention and overcome our isolation. But instead we come perilously close to tumbling off our lofty perches. In this helter-skelter world that changes so fast we can’t keep up, old traditions, venerable customs, time-honored rituals and practices keep us grounded and connected to our social groups. We may want to keep old knowledge alive, but we are suffering from a decline in ancient wisdom and communal activities.

There is an epidemic of loneliness and disconnectedness resulting in serious threats to social bonds. Everybody recognizes that the basic human need for belonging and unity cannot be overemphasized. But like the people of Anatevka, we know that it’s a balancing act.…