“And it came to pass because you hear…” RASHI interpreted, if you obey the minor Mitzvot [commandments], which a person tramples with his heels. Also, it was said, “Be mindful with a minor Mitzva [commandment] as with a major one.”

The Mitzvot to which a person is accustomed by upbringing, he knows he should be mindful of them. However, things that do not come to him by education are hard for him to keep because he does not know the seriousness of the matter, since he is not used to them or knows he should be mindful of them.

Therefore, if a person receives the Mitzvot by upbringing, he calls them serious. Therefore, he knows how to keep himself with all the care as much as possible. But as for the intention, it is impossible to give this to a person in the beginning of his work. Hence, when he grows, when he is told that he must aim for the sake of the Creator, this work is not so important to him because he did not receive it through education.

Therefore, he tramples with his heels, meaning he does not pay attention to them because they are minor and insignificant. Conversely, regarding practical Mitzvot, he knows that it is worthwhile to observe them, and even be stricter than the law and judgments dictate.

Yet, regarding the intention, he does not pay attention to this because he is not used to it. Hence, a person can observe the Torah and Mitzvot without knowing the reason that obligates him, but education itself is a good enough reason for which to observe Torah and Mitzvot.

But most important, once a person has grown up, he should know why he observes Torah and Mitzvot, meaning for what purpose he exerts—since man’s purpose is to achieve Dvekut [adhesion] with the Creator, which is called “repentance.” The imperative “because you hear” relates to this, meaning the thing that one tramples with his heels and pays no attention to it. This is the meaning of “Be mindful with a minor Mitzva as with a major one,” meaning that if one cannot aim for the sake of the Creator, it will be in his eyes as though he has committed a grave transgression. At that time, he will be able to achieve the wholeness required of him.

Kalah [minor] comes from the word Kalon [disgrace] and degradation.