Question
What is the origin of the statement that the world is like a narrow bridge?
Answer
The comparison of the world to a bridge isn’t in the Bible; in fact, the word “gesher” isn’t Biblical Hebrew. An early comparison of the world to a bridge is found in the dialog “Ben ha-Melech veha-Nazir” by R. Avraham b. Chisdai (Spain, mid-1200’s); but the “narrow bridge” phrase seems to come from Likutei Maharan, a collection of sayings by the renowned Chassidic Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav.