When I was growing up, my parents loved the Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” Set in Russia in the early 1900s, one of the most popular songs from that musical was “Tradition.” The lead character,Tevye, believes his way of life is unraveling as his daughters fall in love — not with partners that he thinks are fitting, but with others of different faiths, or poorer than he had hoped.

Tevye sings of the traditional roles of the mother, father, daughter and son, all while realizing, among other things, how difficult it is to maintain tradition in a society and among circumstances that are always changing. That was my take anyway.

That musical is set in 1905 and opened on Broadway in 1964, but I think its exploration of tradition is still fitting for our discussions today.

As more and more immigrants come to the United States, bringing their religious beliefs and cultural traditions, they and their children might find themselves struggling between traditions they brought with them, and the society in which they now live. Is it possible to maintain religious traditions while living in a country like the United States where there are so many different people, religions, ideas, practices and challenges?

I think the answer is yes. One probably need not look farther than the ethnic markets that line many U.S. streets, the religious pride expressed by groups participating in a parade, the ancient religious rites of passage happening in churches, mosques and synagogues throughout the U.S.

And in a less obvious way, parents pass down religious traditions through stories and lessons, books and poetry. Just take a look at the video clip from “A Son’s Sacrifice” below.

As children of immigrants assimilate into a new society, there could be a tension between the old a new, tradition and modernity. But part of American life, I think, is struggling with that identity and finding one’s place in the family, country and larger world.

So, is it hard to maintain religious tradition in a modern world?

Read more about this film documentary directed by Yoni Brook and co-produced with Musa Syeed.