Sefer HaMiddot, Fear, Part I/ספר המדות·פחד·חלק ראשון

1Whenever a wicked person is stricken with fear, clearly the Holy One is fulfilling the desire of a Tzaddik.

2Fear leads to mistakes.

3Trust in God and you will be saved from fear.

4Calling to mind our patriarch Abraham is a segulah for eliminating fear.

5Giving charity eliminates fear.

6Reciting the words HaShem Tzevaot (God of the Hosts) is a segulah for eliminating fear.

7Fear nullifies one’s haughtiness.

8Fear saps a person’s strength.

9A person with intelligence should not be afraid of insignificant sounds.

10Even if a person cannot see what is terrifying him, his guardian angel sees. To dispel this fear he should jump four steps from where he is; or recite the Shema Yisraeh, or proclaim, “The goat in the slaughterhouse is fatter than me!” (Megilah 3a).

11A person who is afraid should sing happy songs.

12Picturing God’s Name Elohim - אלהים - in your mind’s eye will dispel any fear you may have.

13Whoever consumes money belonging to Jews will be stricken with fear.

14A person who is lax in reciting the required blessings before and after eating will be stricken with fear.

15By trusting in God you will not become frightened.

16The beaten willow branches [of Hoshana Rabbah] are a segulah for dispelling fear.

17One who is attentive to and fulfills the verdict of a Jewish court is saved from fear.

18Immersing in a mikvah 310 times eliminates fear. One should also give a gift to a Tzaddik.

19Speaking truthfully saves a person from nighttime fears.

20By being humble you will not become frightened.

21The Other Side clearly has a portion in a house where fear is present.

22When a feeling of fear is followed by a fire, clearly the fear will be dispelled.

23Fear comes because of flattery.

24When Jews are united, the nations are afraid of them.

25When the Jews forget God and no longer rely upon Him, they become frightened of the nations.

26Worry brings to fear.

27Fear brings to lies.

28The light of a candle is a segulah for dispelling fear.

29Taking pride in one’s wealth brings to fear.

30Fear comes because of anger.

31Worry and fear clog the heart.

32Studying Torah while sitting at a meal saves a person from fear.

33When a person is afraid, it is a sign that the Holy One has hidden His face from him and that he has been beset by harsh judgments.

34A person who does not confess his sins will be stricken with fear.