As retold by Bruce Lowitt

A young scholar from New York is invited to become the rabbi of a temple in a small old community in Chicago.

On his very first Shabbat a hot, protracted debate erupts as to whether one should or should not stand during the reading of the kaddish.

The next day the rabbi visits 98-year-old Leon Katz, the congregation's oldest member, now living in a nursing home.

"Mr. Katz," the young rabbi begins, "I'm asking you, as the oldest member of the community, what is our synagogue's custom during the reading of the kaddish?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, last night we read the kaddish. Some people stood and some people sat. The ones standing started screaming at the ones sitting, telling them to stand up. The ones sitting started screaming at the ones standing, telling them to sit down."

"Ah, yes," Katz said. "That is our custom."