A Profound Need For Our Traditions Summary

Traditions “A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.” (Churchill, 31) The Psychology Today article, “A Profound Need for Our Traditions,” by Dr. Saul Levine, highlights the importance of keeping common customs alive in a time where the world is full of hatred. Traditions give humans comfort and familiarity, and help continue the growth of relationships with others. In this article, Levine claims that traditions are imperative to fulfill our human needs. Levine wrote this article to show how important traditions are to maintaining a stable life. He begins the article with an explanation of the musical, “Fiddler On the Roof.” He explains how the main character, Tevya, holds onto

Saul Levine, highlights the importance of keeping common customs alive in a time where the world is full of hatred. Traditions give humans comfort and familiarity, and help continue the growth of relationships with others. In this article, Levine claims that traditions are imperative to fulfill our human needs. Levine wrote this article to show how important traditions are to maintaining a stable life. He begins the article with an explanation of the musical, “Fiddler On the Roof.” He explains how the main character, Tevya, holds onto his traditions like a lifeline at a time where his life is going awry. Levine explains that humans as a whole have a lot in common with Tevya. “I’m certainly not equating our circumstances to Tevya’s, but we do lead complicated inner and outer lives: Along with personal pleasures and rewards, we experience challenges of family, work, social and financial pressures.”(6) He claims that we use our traditions to gain “shared value and mutual comfort.”(8) When people detach themselves from the stress of daily life to take time to spend with family and friends, it creates a state of peacefulness and consideration of others. The article contains multiple engagement tactics that keep the audience involved with the article. Levine uses rhetoric to appeal to the audience’s sense of purpose. He speaks of the heartfelt family traditions that are celebrated around the world, both religious and not. “All religions have traditions which enable us to accomplish these goals: Seders, Shabbat meals, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, Ramadan observances, Tet celebrations, Festivals, Prayers, Atonements and countless other religious occasions are held regularly around the globe.” (11) While reading the article, the audience thinks back to their