Daf Yomi, Marriage Counseling, Psychotherapy, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Torah and Psychology
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph has a ruling by Rav Pappah that integrates the opinion of two sages regarding the wings of the kosher grasshoppers:
“Any grasshopper that has four legs, and four wings, and two additional jumping legs, and whose wings cover most of its body, is kosher. The Gemara asks: What is considered most of its body? Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Most of its length. And some say that he said: Most of its circumference. Rav Pappa said: Therefore, one must satisfy both versions of the statement. We require that the wings cover most of its length, and we also require that they cover most of its circumference.”
Sefer Daf al Daf quotes Sefer Hadar Yitschok that notes Rav Pappah is in the habit of doing this. and Actually there are ten instances in the Talmud where Rav Pappah integrates two opinions and combines them Halachically. (A few sources are Berachos 59a, regarding sighting a rainbow, ibid 60b regarding the closing of the Asher Yatzar blessing and Shabbos 20a regarding the extent that a branch of wood needs to be lit prior to Shabbos.)
The liturgy of the Siyum, recited upon completion of a masechta of Gemara or a Seder of Mishna, includes listing the names of Rav Pappah’s ten learned sons (See Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 246, Rama and Shach.) Hadar Yitschok points out that the Gemara (Shabbos 23b) states “One who shows love for the sages will merit children who become sages.” Rav Pappah merited 10 sons who were sages that correspond to these 10 instances where he harmonized the opinions of his colleagues, an expression of love.
Furthermore, the Maharshal (Yam Shel Shelomo, Bava Kama end of chapter 7) cites a teshuva of the Rama who had a tradition that Rav Pappah was a wealthy man and would make a festive meal to celebrate each time his sons completed a masechta. No doubt, this love for Torah and love for them must have been a contributing factor in their success. Which one, do you think, was primary? His love for Torah or love for them and their achievements? Here is an interesting story from Berachos (45b):
“Three people who ate as one but did not conclude their meals together, one interrupts his meal in order to join the other two in a zimmun, but two do not interrupt their meal to join the other one in a zimmun. The Gemara challenges: And do two really not interrupt their meal to join the other one in a zimmun? Didn’t Rav Pappa interrupt his meal to enable Abba Mar, his son, to recite the zimmun blessing; and, in that case, it was Rav Pappa and one other person? The Gemara responds: The case of Rav Pappa is different, as he acted beyond the letter of the law (to honor him, see Rashi.)”
We can say that Rav Pappah’s honor for the Torah was at least matched by his love and honor for his sons. Either way, a pedagogical success story.
One last thought. Perhaps the constant effort to seek a path that harmonizes both opinions was its own merit and pedagogical influence. The desire to understand and integrate all opinions is an attitude that enacts respect in a practical way and also promotes intellectual development.
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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