Pisqa’ 79132H:133-134; JN1:226 1. “Preserve and hear all these things” (Dt.12:28)— if you’ve heard only a little Torah, you’ll eventually hear much. If you’ve preserved only a little, you’ll eventually preserve much. If you’ve preserved what you’ve heard, you’ll eventually preserve what you haven’t heard.133Mechilta Ishmael, vayass`a, 1. Cf. Pisqa’ 96.3 Preserve what is at hand [to do], and eventually you’ll learn [more to do] for the future.
Another word: If a person earns the merit of Torah-study, he earns it for all his generations, till the end of all generations.134This material is lacking in several mss. See F:145, n.1 and Fraade: 252, n. 162.
2. “Preserve and hear” (Dt.12:28)— whatever is not heard in the oral-performative tradition, has no bearing upon behavior.135For the tradition (mishnah) comprehends all meaningful action (ma`aseh).
“All these things which I am commanding you” (Dt.12:28)— so that the simplest commandment shall be as dear to you as the most arduous commandment.136// M. Avot 2:1 and Pisqa’ 82.1 .
“For you will perform the good and the virtuous” (Dt.12:28)— “the good”—in the sight of Heaven; “and the virtuous”—in the sight of human beings: words of R. Akiva.137=T. Sheq.2:1. And, moreover, He states; “He shall find favor and appreciation in the sight of God and human beings” (Prov.3:4). R. Ishmael says: “And the virtuous” (Dt.12:28)— in the sight of Heaven.138The bulk of 79.2 is repeated below at 96.3
(דברים יב כח) שְׁמֹר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ, אִם שָׁמַעְתָּ מְעַט – סוֹפְךָ לִשְׁמוֹעַ הַרְבֵּה, אִם שָׁמַרְתָּ מְעַט – סוֹפְךָ לִשְׁמוֹר הַרְבֵּה, אִם שָׁמַרְתָּ מַה שֶּׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ – סוֹפְךָ לִשְׁמוֹר מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְתָּ; שְׁמוֹר מַה שֶּׁבְּיָדְךָ – וְסוֹפְךָ לִלְמוֹד לֶעָתִיד.
Pisqa’ 79132H:133-134; JN1:226
1. “Preserve and hear all these things” (Dt.12:28)—
if you’ve heard only a little Torah,
you’ll eventually hear much.
If you’ve preserved only a little,
you’ll eventually preserve much.
If you’ve preserved what you’ve heard,
you’ll eventually preserve what you haven’t heard.133Mechilta Ishmael, vayass`a, 1. Cf. Pisqa’ 96.3
Preserve what is at hand [to do],
and eventually you’ll learn [more to do] for the future.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: זָכָה אָדָם לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה – זָכָה לוֹ וּלְדוֹרוֹתָיו עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת.
Another word:
If a person earns the merit of Torah-study,
he earns it for all his generations,
till the end of all generations.134This material is lacking in several mss. See F:145, n.1 and Fraade: 252, n. 162.
שְׁמֹר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ, כָּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מִשְׁנָה – אֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מַעֲשֶׂה.
2. “Preserve and hear” (Dt.12:28)—
whatever is not heard in the oral-performative tradition,
has no bearing upon behavior.135For the tradition (mishnah) comprehends all meaningful action (ma`aseh).
אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּךָּ, שֶׁתְּהֵא מִצְוָה קַלָּה חֲבִיבָה עָלֶיךָ כְּמִצְוָה חֲמוּרָה.
“All these things which I am commanding you” (Dt.12:28)—
so that the simplest commandment
shall be as dear to you
as the most arduous commandment.136// M. Avot 2:1 and Pisqa’ 82.1 .
כִּי תַעֲשֶׂה הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר, הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵי שָׁמַיִם, וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי אָדָם, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה.
“For you will perform the good and the virtuous” (Dt.12:28)—
“the good”—in the sight of Heaven;
“and the virtuous”—in the sight of human beings:
words of R. Akiva.137=T. Sheq.2:1.
And, moreover, He states;
“He shall find favor and appreciation
in the sight of God and human beings” (Prov.3:4).
R. Ishmael says:
“And the virtuous” (Dt.12:28)—
in the sight of Heaven.138The bulk of 79.2 is repeated below at 96.3