(א) וּלְתוֹסֶפֶת בֵּיאוּר, בַּאֵר הֵיטֵב, מִלַּת ״מְאֹד״ שֶׁבַּפָּסוּק: ״כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד וְגוֹ׳״.
(ב) צָרִיךְ לֵידַע נֶאֱמָנָה, כִּי אַף מִי שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ קְצָרָה בִּידִיעַת ה׳, וְאֵין לוֹ לֵב לְהָבִין בִּגְדוּלַּת אֵין־סוֹף בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, לְהוֹלִיד מִמֶּנָּה דְּחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ אֲפִילוּ בְּמוֹחוֹ וּתְבוּנָתוֹ לְבַד, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן, קָרוֹב אֵלָיו הַדָּבָר מְאֹד לִשְׁמוֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מִצְוֹת הַתּוֹרָה וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד כּוּלָּן, בְּפִיו וּבִלְבָבוֹ מַמָּשׁ, מֵעוּמְקָא דְלִבָּא, בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִיתּוֹ, בִּדְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ, שֶׁהִיא ״אַהֲבָה מְסוּתֶּרֶת״ שֶׁבְּלֵב כְּלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהִיא יְרוּשָּׁה לָנוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ.
(ג) רַק שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְבָאֵר וּלְהַקְדִּים תְּחִלָּה בַּאֵר הֵיטֵב, שֹׁרֶשׁ אַהֲבָה זוֹ, וְעִנְיָינָהּ, וְאֵיךְ הִיא יְרוּשָּׁה לָנוּ, וְאֵיךְ נִכְלָל בָּהּ גַּם דְּחִילוּ.
(1) To explain more adequately and more precisely the word “very” in the verse, “For this thing is very near to you….”1 Deuteronomy 30:14.
(2) It should be recognized with certainty that even the person whose understanding in the knowledge of G–d is limited, and who has no heart to comprehend the greatness of the En Sof, blessed is He, to produce therefrom awe and love [of G–d] even in his mind and understanding alone2 I.e., without emotional sway.—however, it is a “very near thing” for him to observe and practice all the commandments of the Torah and the “study of the Torah which counterbalances them all,” in his very mouth and heart, from the depths of his heart, in true sincerity, with fear and love; namely, the hidden love in the heart of all Jews which is an inheritance to us from our Patriarchs.
(3) However, we must, first of all, preface a clear and precise explanation of the origin and essence of this love, how it became our inheritance, and how awe is also incorporated in it.