Pirke Awot 5:23 Halacha: Sefer Mitzvot Katan, Chafetz Chaim & Sefer Chasidim

Since, due to our iniquities, the Torah is being forgotten and I was afraid that many would not know the understanding of the commandments that are incumbent upon us, I have written these commandments that are incumbent upon us in our time in seven columns that correspond to the seven days of the week: So I am requesting that every man read a column each day so that it be good for him. For there are many commandments that a person is not obligated to observe until they come to him. But when he reads them and considers them in his heart, the Holy One, blessed be He, counts it for him as if he did [them]: And this reward is great beyond measure. And the proof is from that which it is written, And the Children of Israel went and did (Exodus 12:28), concerning Passover. But this was said on the first of Nissan, when they were commanded and accepted upon themselves to do [it], and the doing was not until the 14th of Nissan. It comes out that the acceptance was counted for them like the doing. And also, as it is found in Sifrei (Sifrei Bamidbar 151), "And you shall remember them [...] and do them (Numbers 15:39), from here [we learn] that remembering is like doing." Also, sometimes the commandment will come to him, and he will not know how to do [it]. Hence everyone should pay attention to this; for if not now, when [alluding to Avot 1:14]? And anyone who does not know the understanding [of the commandments] should also study the Sefer HaMitzvot which was developed by Rabbenu Moshe of Coucy. And if he [still] does not know, he should ask someone greater than himself. As the words of the Torah are compared to water, such that one should not be embarrassed to ask one another, as it is stated, Ho, all who are thirsty, come for water (Isaiah 55:1). And the greater one should also not prevent himself from teaching the lesser one. Hence I have summoned a blessing to do like this thing, so that we become one grouping and, through this, the servant will be acceptable to his Master. And each one who increases [this] will be praiseworthy, to study the explanation of two or three commandments daily. And [with] everything, according to the toil is the reward [alluding to Avot 5:23]. One should also organize [study] of the parashah that they are reading in the synagogue weekly, as the sages commanded, twice reading and once in translation. And one who does not understand the translation [of Onkelos] should read the commentaries; and if he does not [understand that], he said ask someone greater than him. And if he is not able to complete it in one or two days, he should divide it into seven sections, so that it not be too difficult for him. And even though a person is [already] accustomed to studying without the stringent prohibition of this blessing, it is nevertheless a proper thing to attach oneself to the blessing to draw the hearts of others; and also because his reward will be doubled and quadrupled if he will do it for the sake of the yoke of his Master that is incumbent upon him much more than if he would study double without this yoke when he is available. I have also set down a blessing to bless daily, for someone who attaches himself into this covenant in this commandment of the One for whom I am a messenger: And every sexton in every town should command to copy these commandments and to give the wage [to the transcriber] from the community chest, so that it will be a guardianship in their hands afterwards, such that anyone who wants to copy or study it, borrow it and return it on the same day. And it shall be righteousness for you, for they will then be secure. And if the messenger should need to stay in the town in order to copy the commandments, they should give him a wage from the chest of six small "pasitornis" per day, and meals and lodging from the home-owners as is the law for other wayfarers. And I have not done this to become famous, as there is no fame in this, as it is a simple act. For it is a time of need, lest the commandments be forgotten from the mouths of Israel: For the sages said (Avot 2:5), "An uneducated person is not a pious one." As sometimes a person thinks he is doing a commandment, but he is [actually] doing a sin, like in the story of Rabbi Akiva. So everyone must strengthen themselves about this, since the Holy One, blessed be He, will not raise another prophet to make us repent if we do not repent on our own, as Scripture stated, Until when will you waver, O rebellious daughter, etc. (Jeremiah 31:22): Such did our teacher, our rabbi, Rabbi Yitzchak the Pious, son of Yosef from Corbeilles write and send out in Ashkenaz.

And from this we can understand that lashon hara is certainly forbidden in an instance where only one's personal honor is at stake. As when one is sitting in a company of men and has no way of avoiding them, and they are speaking of things which are forbidden according to the din. If he sits in silence and in no way abets them in their talk, he will be regarded as "crazy." Of this and all such things, Chazal have said (Eduyoth 5:6): "Better that a man be called 'a fool' all of his days rather than be wicked one moment before the L-rd." He must harness all of his powers at that moment to withstand the trial, and [if he does so], he may be completely confident that his reward for this from the Blessed L–rd will be without end. As Chazal have stated (Avoth 5:23): "According to the strain is the reward." And, in Avoth d'R. Nathan: "One time with strain for a hundred times without strain." (That is, the reward for the performance of a mitzvah or the abstention from an issur, which entails strain, is a hundredfold more than for that of the same kind, which entails no strain.) And to such a time [of trial as the above] there certainly applies the statement of Chazal in the Midrash: "For every moment that one 'muzzles' his mouth, he attains to such secreted light that no angel or [Divine] creature can conceive of." (As to how one should conduct himself in respect to reproof and listening if one is "caught" in such an evil company as this one, see below Principle VI, sections 4-6, and above, in the introduction to the negative commandments, section 16.)

Each man who loves virtue, loves reproofs, loves reprimands, loves acts of charity, invites the wayfarer and recites his prayers with devotion, such a man, even if his dwelling be outside the Holy Land, will not be visited with the afflictions of the grave.¹According to Jewish folklore after the body is placed in the grave it is subjected to violent and painful afflictions. And even the judgement of Gehenna he does not see. Come and see how your heart would rejoice if a king of flesh and blood were to say to you, “Serve before me,” even though he is a worm like yourself. And we who serve the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, how much more should we rejoice and be zealous in the service of the Holy One, blessed be He. And so they have said, “Be strong as a tiger, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and as mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven.” ²Aboth 5:23. “The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God for this is the whole man” (Eccl. 12:13).