Daf Yomi, Marriage Counseling, Psychotherapy, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Torah and Psychology
Our Gemara on Amud Beis reports a response by Rav Yosef to explain what seems to be contradictory halachic practices in different locales. Rav Yosef says, “nahara, nahara upashta” — “Each river and its unique course, i.e., each place follows its custom.”
What does Rav Yosef mean? Rashi explains that rivers naturally flow differently in different locations. The Aramaic word “pashta” is translated as direction of spread or flow. Later on daf 57a, he elaborates and says in some locations rivers flow strongly; in other locations rivers flow more gently. So too, in some locations the halacha may be more strict and in others less so.
Rabbenu Gershom translates the word pashta differently. It still comes from the same root of spread but here it means the bridge that goes over the river. The metaphor is that just as each river requires a different kind of bridge, so too each locale may require a different kind of halachic ruling.
Let us analyze how Rashi and Rabbenu Gershom understand this idiom. Both of them are implying that it is not merely a random statement, but there is an interaction between the river and its environment. That is to say, the halachic rulings are dynamic, and based on the needs and interaction — one might also say the analytical skills and interpretations — of the local rabbinic authority. However, there is a difference between Rashi and Rabbenu Gershom connoted by their metaphors. According to Rashi, we may say the river flows according to the terrain and so too the halacha responds to the terrain of the location. But according to Rabbenu Gershom, it is not the river that is accommodating; it is the bridge that is accommodating. I think there is an extra level of meaning here. The practice and ruling of halacha is a bridge mechanism toward reaching a goal, just as the bridge takes you over the river from one place to another. So the philosophy according to Rabbenu Gershom is that the Halacha follows different rulings in different locations in order to serve as a bridge toward the desired goal of expressing the will of God in the correct way in that place. This is reminiscent of what we discussed in blog post Psychology of the Daf, Chulin 15, based on the Vayikra Rabbah 13, that the Commandments have a function of refining and elevating human behavior, and therefore they can be a means an end, a bridge and not just an intrinsic act. The factors that may influence different halachic decisions are what best accomplishes this bridge.
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Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, LMFT, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com