Pisqa’ 79¹³²

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.**¹³³, 1. Cf. Pisqa’ 96.3 Preserve what is at hand [to do], and eventually you’ll learn [more to do] for the future.

footnotes: ¹³² H:133-134; JN1:226 ¹³³ Mechilta Ishmael, vayass`a

Another word: If a person earns the merit of Torah-study, he earns it for all his generations, till the end of all generations.¹³⁴

footnotes: ¹³⁴ This 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.¹³⁵) comprehends all meaningful action (ma`aseh).

footnotes: ¹³⁵ For the tradition (mishnah

“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 82.1 .

footnotes: ¹³⁶ // M. Avot 2:1 and Pisqa’

“For you will perform the good and the virtuous” (Dt. 12:28)— “the good”—in the sight of Heaven;

words of R. Akiva.¹³⁷ 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.¹³⁸

footnotes: ¹³⁷ =T. Sheq.2:1. ¹³⁸ The bulk of 79.2 is repeated below at 96.3