Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 32a
תלמוד בבלי מסכת שבת דף לב עמוד א
רבי ינאי בדיק ועבר. רבי ינאי לטעמיה, דאמר: לעולם אל יעמוד אדם במקום סכנה לומר שעושין לו נס - שמא אין עושין לו נס. ואם עושין לו נס - מנכין לו מזכיותיו.
R. Jannai [acted] upon his views, for he said, One should never stand in a place of danger and say that a miracle will be wrought for them, lest it is not. And if a miracle is wrought for them, it is deducted from their merits. [Soncino translation. Edited for gender neutrality]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why might someone put themselves in a place of danger? Why is it deducted from their merits if a miracle is performed to save them?

2. How is this text a model for community organizing?

Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)