Gentlemen, good morning. Shavua Tov. We are still in Perek Aleph (Chapter One), Chovat Ha'adam be'olamo (The duty of man in his world). He told us this paragraph, one of his biggest proofs. How can it be that man's purpose is to be in this world? Why do you need a Neshama (soul)? Such a high Neshama, which he says is even greater than the angels. Remember those words: we have a Neshama that's greater than Malachim (angels), because we get tests. But why do we need it if it's only just to eat and drink? A horse doesn't have a Neshama; a cow doesn't have a Neshama. It's having a great time. It's very calm. It must be that the person was created for his purpose in the next world. That's why he needs a Neshama.
Here, after we know there's a page, Chaf Zayin (twenty-seven), in the middle of the page, we will immediately understand the severity of the Mitzvot (commandments). What? That they're incumbent upon us. And the preciousness of the service of Hashem, which is in our hands. Now you understand that the Mitzvot are so precious, so special, because they are the only means to get us to the perfect service, the completion. Without the... you can't get there. The guy knows that this is the only way to get to a certain goal. He's not going to disregard it and take it lightly. “This is my only thing that I have.” You have to know, you can't reach the goal, Takhlit, unless you gather all the means that are found, which will help you reach it.
And according to the ability of these means and how to use them, so too you'll have the outcome which comes from them. That means, depending on how much you use the Mitzvot and the manner in which you accomplish them, that will bring you to the outcome of what the Mitzvot are supposed to do: get you close to Hashem, get you close to Him in the next world.
Vechol Hefresh Katan (and every small difference) Shimon. He writes very hard words. It sounds hard, but he's saying something very simple. Kol Hefresh Katan, the smallest deviation, separation. A person has in Mitzvot—how would you tell...? Let's say a guy is supposed to say Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals) correctly, but he rushes through it. He rushes through it: “I'm hajj.” When would you tell the outcome of this, of that action? Not now. At the end, when all the Mitzvot have to gather together to give you the culmination, the outcome in the next world, they can say, “Oh, that was missing. Oh, boy.” Behagia Zman HaTakhlit HaNolad (When the resulting purpose's time arrives). The Takhlit, the outcome, which is created from all the gathering, all the Mitzvot, at that point they'll be able to have Vechol Hefresh Katan, a little deviation.
I didn't pray well. I didn't sit correctly. I didn't talk to someone the right way. Okay, big deal. You know, we do small lapses and small little things that are incorrect, but we ignore it. We say, “Big deal. Okay. Basically, I'm a good guy. I'm a decent guy. However, okay, I missed it.” All of that will add up. It adds up, and the outcome will be totally different.
Bezeh Barur. And this is clear. Bezeh Barur. Bezeh Barur. Now you realize, if you think about this, the care—the what's the Dikduk (precision) that a person has to have with the Mitzvot and serving Hashem. A person has to be very precise.
For example, when they shoot a rocket up to outer space, to the moon, if they're off by a little bit—it's only a little bit, a millimeter here—by the time it gets up there, you're in another galaxy. Way off course. Way off course. Not going to hit the space station. “Nah, but it's a tiny thing.” He said, “Yeah, but when you realize how important it is to be exact, you have to be much more careful with your Mitzvot.”
How careful? Like those who weigh gold and pearls according to their value, because they're so precious. So they don't—you don't have the same scale when you're weighing tomatoes as when you're weighing gold. That scale has been much more precise, because the smallest deviation makes a huge difference. He told, because the outcome comes from the right, the complete perfection, and the eternal reward; there's nothing higher than it. So you're not talking about just trying to get to the space station. You're talking about the reward that's going to be forever and ever and ever. And that reward is going to be contingent on how you do Mitzvot. So if the person is not careful, what's going to happen? Of course he's going to be as careful as someone who deals with gold and precious stones, and much more. Okay, stop over here.