The people of Anatevka, a small Jewish community in Tsarist Russia, wrest a precarious, simple living from the soil. Tevye the Milkman, a devout, humorous, ebullient man, tells how their strength derives from the age-old laws of Tradition.

In Tevye's home, Golde, his wife and his five daughters are preparing for the Sabbath. Yente, the Matchmaker, arrives to tell Golde that the Butcher, Lazar Wolfe, a gross, middle-aged, wealthy widower, hopes to marry their oldest daughter Tzeitel. Golde is delighted, but concerned that Tevye may not approve the match. Tzeitel, already in love with the poor tailor, Motel Kamzoil, can only guess at what Yente proposes.

While Tevye is struggling home he meets Perchik, a poor student from Kiev with determined ideas of his own, who agrees to teach Tevye's daughters in return for his keep.

Tevye meets Lazar in the village inn and is persuaded, against his better judgement, to agree to the marriage. Next day, Tzeitel is told of the plan for her marriage to Lazar and, in tears, begs Tevye not to insist on the match. Tevye is at first deeply shocked that they propose to break with the tradition that Papa should choose his daughter's husband but, impressed by Motel's unwonted courage and the depth of Tzeitel's feelings, eventually gives his consent.

Motel and Tzeitel are married with traditional solemnity. At the height of the celebration. Russian demonstrators arrive, bent on destroying Jewish property. They smash up the wedding feast. Tevye, stunned, can only look to God for an explanation.

As Act II opens, Motel and Tzeitel have been happily married for two months. Outside Anatevka the troubles are spreading through Russia and Perchik goes to join the revolutionaries in their struggle against the Tsar. Before he leaves he asks Hodel to marry him and she consents. Tevye, once more unable to resist the pleading in a daughter's eyes, reluctantly gives them his blessing.