Daf Yomi, Marriage Counseling, Psychotherapy, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Torah and Psychology
Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses possible scriptural sources for the percentage given as terumah (generally for the kohanim) from the loaves of the thanksgiving offering. In one part of the discussion, there is a suggestion to learn from the terumah that was taken from the spoils of the war against Midyan.
In Bamidbar (31:28–30), there were two terumos. Those who went to war kept half the spoils, and from that half had to give 1/500 as terumah. Those who did not fight split the other half of the spoils and gave 1/50. Therefore, when the Gemara suggests that we can learn the percentage of terumah required for the thanksgiving loaves from the Midyan spoils, it could mean 1/50 or 1/500. Rashi on our Gemara says 1/50. Interestingly, Rashi Kesav Yad says 1/500. Either way, we must understand the rationale for choosing one derivation over the other. Sefer Daf al Daf brings down a fascinating discussion:
Generally, when having a choice to derive a higher or lower amount from a scriptural source, the rabbis apply the principle of “If you (attempt to) grasp a large amount, you (might) retain nothing, while if you grasp a small amount, you will retain it.” (See Yoma 80a as an example.)
If we apply this principle here, at face value Rashi Kesav Yad is correct, since 1/500 is smaller than 1/50. Yet it depends on how you understand the root reason for the principle. Thus far, we are looking at it as choosing the smaller number in any sense, even literally. However, if the principle is to choose the most conservative option, though often a smaller number is the conservative number, this is not always true. In the example of a possible Biblical requirement to dedicate a portion of terumah, the conservative option is to give more (1/50) so as to fulfill the requirement beyond doubt. This might be the rationale for our version of Rashi, which says 1/50.
There is another profound idea here. The rabbis applied an adage to dictate a Torah idea. I believe this is because when the rabbis discerned an adage that was wise, they realized that it represented a pattern in life. The rabbis saw patterns, or in a Jungian sense, archetypes, as coming from God, just as the laws of nature and physics come from God. Therefore, a minimalist approach to derivations from the Torah is a reflection of a greater psychological, economic, and spiritual truth. Grand gestures and dramatic actions are often far less effective than small, doable commitments. Your goals may be big, but it is important to break them down into small, measurable, and actionable steps.
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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