[Avodah] Minhagim and Siddurim

[Richard Wolberg]

Regarding the recent posting question: 
Is it repulsive that on Pesach in one apartment 
the Sephardic Jews are eating rice and in another 
next door the Ashkenazic Jews are not eating Kitnyos?

That was exactly the point of my statement of what one does in privacy as opposed to communal.
Interestingly, Zunz counted up fifteen hundred different authors whose words of prayer were 
used in various communities and at various times.

Just think of the history of prayer books. We have never had one prayer book unchangingly used by 
all congregations everywhere. Rambam in Egypt had his prayer book. Rashi had his prayer book in 
France. Germany had its prayer book and what is more, some of the little communities in Germany
had their special siddurim. Sabato Morais who was born in the city of Leghorn, said that in his native
city there were four congregations and four different siddurim. We should remember "eilu v'eilu..."

ri