Discussion Questions: What is Moshe anxious about? How would you advise Moshe?
Reflection question: Can you think of a time when you pushed past a fear and did something you thought you couldn't do?
ת"ר לפי שראה אדם הראשון יום שמתמעט והולך אמר אוי לי שמא בשביל שסרחתי עולם חשוך בעדי וחוזר לתוהו ובוהו וזו היא מיתה שנקנסה עלי מן השמים עמד וישב ח' ימים בתענית [ובתפלה] כיון שראה תקופת טבת וראה יום שמאריך והולך אמר מנהגו של עולם
the Sages taught: When Adam the first man saw that the day was progressively getting shorter in the autumn, said: Woe is me; perhaps because I sinned the world is becoming dark around me and will ultimately return to the primordial state of chaos and disorder. And this is the death that was sentenced upon me from Heaven, as it is written: “And to dust shall you return” (Genesis 3:19). He arose and spent eight days in fasting and in prayer. Once he saw that the season of Tevet, i.e., the winter solstice, had arrived, and saw that the day was progressively lengthening after the solstice, he said: Clearly, the days become shorter and then longer, and this is the order of the world...
Discussion questions: What causes Adam's anxiety? What relieves it?
Reflection question: Can you think of a time when realizing that something was out of your control made it less scary?
§ It is written in one verse: “Doeg the Edomite” (I Samuel 22:9), and it is written in another verse: “And the king said to Doyeig” (I Samuel 22:18). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in explaining the discrepancy: Initially, the Holy One, Blessed be He, sat and was concerned/anxious [doeg] that perhaps this person would emerge to undertake an evil path. After he emerged on that path, God said: Alas [vai], that person has emerged to undertake an evil path.
(25) If there is anxiety in a person’s mind let them quash it, And turn it into joy with a good word.
(א) דאגה בלב איש ישחנה. ישיחנה מדעתו: (ב) ודבר טוב ישמחנה. יעסוק בתורה והיא תשמח את הדאגה שבלבו ותצילנו ממנה,
(1) If there is concern in a man’s heart, let him cast it down Let him divert his attention from it. (2) and a good word will make it cheerful Let him engage in the Torah which will cause the concern in his heart to rejoice and save him therefrom....
(א) דאגה בלב איש. כשיקרה שיהיה דאגה בלב איש צריך להשתדל להכניע ולהשפיל הדאגה כי אין בדאגה תועלת כלל אך נזק והוא ממה שאינו ראוי למשכיל כי הדאגה על דבר החולף הוא שגעון גם הדאגה לענין העתיד היא בלתי ראויה כי ראוי שיבטח האדם על הש''י
Worry in a person's heart - When it occurs that worry is in a person's heart, he needs to strive to subdue and lower the worry, for in worry, there is no use at all, only harm. And this is not worthy for an enlightened person, for the worry about a thing that will pass is craziness. Also the worry about a future matter is worthless, because it is worthwhile for the person to trust in HaShem Yitbarach (God, who is blessed).
(2) On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. (3) You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the sabbath day.