Why Communal Burdens Make a Wise Man Forget His Torah

[Another interpretation of (Exodus 6:2): "And God spoke to Moses."] This is what Scripture says (Ecclesiastes 7:7): "For oppression makes a wise man foolish, etc." When the wise man busies himself with many occupations, they confuse him and turn him away from wisdom, "and destroy the heart of a gift" (ibid.) — that which is called a gift utterly departs from his heart, as it is said (Numbers 21:19): "From Mattanah to Nahaliel." Another interpretation of "For oppression makes a wise man foolish": the occupation by which the wise man busies himself with the needs of the community — these make him forget his wisdom. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: I learned sixty laws from Judah ben Pedayah concerning the plowing-over of a grave; but because I was occupied with the needs of the community, I forgot all of them. This is the meaning of "For oppression makes a wise man foolish, etc."