Kitzur Sh’lu, p. 2, col. 2.

Now let us illustrate the subject of “fear and love.”  Fear proceedeth from love and love proceedeth from fear.  And this you may demonstrate by writing their letters one over the other, and then dividing them by horizontal and perpendicular lines, thus Love perfecteth fear, and fear perfecteth love.  This is to teach thee that both are united together.

Ibid., p. 4, col. 2.

The Holy One—­blessed be He!—­often brings affliction on the righteous though they have not sinned, in order that they may learn to keep aloof from the allurements of the world and eschew temptation to sin.  From this it is plain that afflictions are good for man, and therefore our Rabbis, of blessed memory, have said, “As men bless with joy and a sincere heart for a benefit received, so likewise ought they joyfully to bless God when He afflicts them, as, though the special blessing be hidden from the children of men, such affliction is surely intended for good....  Or most souls being at present in a state of transmigration, God requites a man now for what his soul merited in a bypast time in another body, by having broken some of the 613 precepts.”

Kitzur Sh’lu, p. 6, col. 1.

Thus we have the rule:  No one is perfect unless he has thoroughly observed all the 613 precepts.  If this be so, who is he and where is he that has observed all the 613 precepts?  For even the lord of the prophets, Moses our Rabbi—­peace be on him!—­had not observed them all; for there are four obstacles which hinder one from observing all:  (1.) There is the case of complete prevention, such as the law of the priesthood, the precepts of which only priests can observe, and yet these precepts are included in the 613.  Besides, there are among the number precepts appertaining to the Levites which concern neither priests nor Israelites, and also others which are binding on Israelites with which priests and Levites have nothing whatever to do. (2.) Then there are impossible cases, as, for instance, when one cannot observe the precept which enforces circumcision, because he has not a son to circumcise. (3 and 4.) There are also conditional and exceptional cases, as in the case of precepts having reference to the Temple and to the land of Israel.

Ibid., p. 6, col. 2.

Therefore every Israelite is bound to observe only such of the 613 precepts as are possible to him; and such as he has not observed in consequence of hindrances arising from unpreventable causes will be reckoned to him as if actually performed.

Ibid.

The Yalkut Shimeoni, in true Rabbinical style, amplifies still farther the license conceded in the above quotations.  Rabbi Eliezer says that the Israelites bewailed thus before God, exclaiming, “We would fain be occupied night and day in the law, but we have not the necessary leisure.”  Then the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­said, “Perform the commandment of the Phylacteries,