The congregation where I make minyan consists of folks from many traditions. The chief rabbi is of Egyptian descent. The other rabbi is Ashkenazi.
The two guys who sit behind me have North African traditions - one Moroccan, the other Algerian. We have a couple more who follow North African traditions.
We also have some Mizrachim - Iraqis, Iranians, and Syrians. We even have, I think. a Yemeni from time to time.
What we don't have is a cohen. We have a levi, but no cohen. If you are a cohen and in the neighborhood, please drop in; our levi needs an aliyah.
Because I've "been around" and "slapped leather" in many different congregations, I enjoy watching, and sometimes learning about, other folks' traditions.
There are some who, when donning the tallit, roll up the tallit before putting it over their heads. There are others who throw it over their shoulders and back, then gather up the four corners.
Some take the four corners and enwrap themselves being very careful NOT to cover their faces while other cover their faces to one degree or another.
העיקר It is enough that they put on the tallit.
The Ashkenazim in the congregation stand to put on hand and head tefillin.
Sefardim and Mizrachim sit to wrap the hand tefillin and stand for the head tefillin.
Some are "makped" not to let the straps hit the floor, others are less concerned.
העיקר It is enough that the men wear tefillin.
Some of the ladies cover their heads with a wig, others with a hat, and still others with a scarf.
Hakham Ovadia Yosef has a problem with wigs so Mizrachi women generally wear a hat or a scarf. North African women, whose husbands follow North African rabbis such as Messas, Abuhatzeira. Berdugo, Azulai, and ibn Susan to name a few, have no problem with the wig, although most Moroccan women I know wear a hat or scarf.
העיקר Their hair is covered, at least in synagogue, with "something.
Back in the 60s there was a song by - I think- "Sly & the Family Stone" titled "Different Strikes for Different Folks." That's Judaism.
What we need to do is learn to respect each others' traditions, minhagim.
And for those who are less observant, help them find a way to increase their mitzvah count little by little.
העיקר A Jew is a Jew is a Jew.
הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי
