A lot of the confusion is, I believe, a lack of understanding of how Judaism was practiced a few hundred years ago.
Before the Enlightenment & Emancipation of Jews in Europe there were legally organized Kehillas backed by the non-jewish govt.
These Kehillas required every member to be on the same page.
Here is where Judaism changed.
Tell a Jew today to change their Mesorah & they’ll stab you.
Back then people understood & accepted this is how Judaism is practiced, “I lived 30 years in a Kehilla that doesn’t wear Tefillin on Ch’M but now that I live in a Tefillin wearing Kehilla I will start wearing on Ch’M.”
I’m sure most of us have heard, “Back in Europe everyone in the same town had the same Mesorah.”
Ever wonder why? Did Jews not move back then? Now you know why. Jews switched from Mesorah to Mesorah based on the Kehilla rules where they lived.
So Mesorah is kinda nonsense.
You’re eternally stuck with this Mesorah because of where your ancestor happened to live when the Kehilla system collapsed?
If your ancestor moved to a new Kehilla & took on their Mesorah just 2 months before the collapse does it make sense you’re forever beholden to this Mesorah your ancestor kept for barely 2 months in a new Kehilla?
