Preserving Customs

It was Shabbos and the last day of Pesach in the neighborhood known as "Skvertown" in New York. A member of the community was making a simcha and invited many guests. One of the guests who had a nice voice was honored to be chazan for mussaf. He got up and started singing the poem "Y-ah E'li Vigoali". The problem was that in Skver the custom was that on if the last day of Pesach was on Shabbos they didn't say this poem. The Chasidim were waiting for the Rebbe Rav Yaakov Twerski ztz"l to motion them to stop him. They knew how careful the Rebbe was to guard and preserve time honored customs. The Rebbe did nothing and just listened to the Chazzan until he finished.

Afterwards the Chasidim asked the Rebbe why he didn't tell them to stop the Chazzan, the custom in Skver is to omit this poem? The Rebbe answered that in Skver there is another custom - not to embarrass another human being!!

Zchus hatzadikim yaazor vi'yogein vi'yoshea!

[Related by R' Shaul Shiff]