Do not let a day to pass without fulfilling a Mitzvah-commandment, whether it is a minor mitzvah or a major one, like our sages, of blessed memory, stated,²⁷ “Be as radiant-Zahir-זהיר with a minor mitzvah as with a major one.” Though the word Zahir-זהירis usually translated as “careful,” it is of the same root, as in the verse,²⁸ “And they that are wise will be radiant-Yazhiru-יזהירוlike the Zohar*-זהר*-radiance of the firmament.” In other words, the soul should be as radiant and illuminated from the performance of a minor mitzvah as a major one, for “the Merciful One seeks the heart.”²⁹

footnotes: ²⁷ Mishnah Avot 2:1 ²⁸ Daniel 12:3 ²⁹ Zohar Vol. 2, 162b; Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 106b.

This is a very great matter, for through it you will know that you have affected the day and created an angel. As the verse states,³⁰ “Even if there is only a single advocating angel, out of a thousand, to declare man’s uprightness on his behalf; HaShem will be gracious to him and say, ‘Redeem him from going down into the grave. I have found atonement for him.’”

footnotes: ³⁰ Job 33:23-24

The mnemonic by which to remember this, is the verse,³¹ “He who guards-Shomer-שומר the mitzvah will know no evil.” In other words, whoever accepts this matter upon himself, must stand guard at his post from morning to evening, awaiting the opportunity to fulfill any mitzvah that comes his way. That is, the term guard-Shomer-שומר is of the same root used in the verse,³² “His father waited in anticipation-Shamar-שמר of the matter.”³³ Through this, one merits that, “He will know no evil.” That is, he will not be subject to random happenstance (Keri-קרי)³⁴ which is called evil, God forbid.

footnotes: ³¹ Ecclesiastes 8:5 ³² Genesis 37:11 ³³ Rashi to Genesis 37:11 ³⁴ Leviticus 26:21 & Rashi there; Also see Ginat Egoz of Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, translated as HaShem Is One, Volume 2, pg. 353.

The mnemonic by which to remember this is the verse,³⁵ “The kindness of God is all day long.” That is, one must do acts of lovingkindness for God, blessed is He, every single day.

footnotes: ³⁵ Psalms 52:3