Opinion: Outside In

A Closer Look at Traditions

By David Weinstein

If you’ve read my bio, you know I live in Newport Beach. And while I’ve spent time in Laguna Beach, I don’t understand the city like a local, so I’ve been reading back issues of the Laguna Beach Independent. I find that certain names keep coming up in articles, but since I’m the new kid on the block it’s too early to cast any aspersions. But correct me if I’m wrong here, your idyllic city by the sea is about as contentious as my homeowner’s association.

I spent my real estate career dealing with land-use issues and know the strong emotions they can provoke. I also grew up in a family of willful and independent individuals, so I am no stranger to discord. Growing up, my family’s “arguments” were legendary. On hot summer evenings in the Midwest our voices would carry through the open windows and on occasion a neighbor might chime in trying to bring us to consensus so they could get some peace and quiet. “Okay already Jack, let the kid have the car and I’ll drive you to the bus stop so you can get to work in the morning.”

So, I fully understand how people might become protective and have differing opinions over how to move forward and still retain the character and heritage of such a singular place as Laguna Beach. It all reminds me of a story a friend recently shared:

During services at an older synagogue, when the holy Shema prayer was said, half the congregants stood, and the other half remained seated. Those who were seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and those standing yelled back at the sitting ones to stand. The new rabbi, though learned, was confounded by this. A suggestion was made that he consult with an elderly congregant who was a founder of the temple and now lived in a nursing home. He hoped the elderly man could tell him what the actual temple tradition was. So, he went to the nursing home with a representative from each group. The one whose followers stood during the Shema asked the old man, “Is it the tradition to stand during this prayer?”

The old man answered, “No, that is not the tradition.”

The one whose followers sat said, “Then it must be the tradition to sit during the Shema.”

The old man answered again, “No, that is not the tradition.”

The frazzled rabbi then turned to the old man and said, “But the members of the congregation fight all the time yelling at each other about whether they should sit or stand.”

To which the old man exclaimed, “Yes! That is our tradition!”

I’m looking forward to writing about your fair city, with its picturesque beaches, striking beauty, history in the creative arts, and, given my background, its tradition of argumentative politics.

David lives in Newport Beach and is a member of Easy Writers, a writing group that started as a memoir class at the public library. Support your public library!