797. A Gift

Raba Hezia to Rav Hamnuna about prolonging his prayer. He said, “We leave the everlasting life and engage in transient life.” RASHI interpreted “everlasting life” as Torah, “transient life” is for health, peace, and nourishment” (Shabbat [Sabbath] 10a).

We should interpret that “transient life” is a Mitzva [commandment], which protects and saves when engaging in it. This is why it is called “transient life.” “Everlasting life” means Torah, since it protects and saves even when one does not engage in it.

We should understand that the meaning of Mitzva [commandment], which is faith, is only a correction, which is a temporary means. Conversely, Torah is a gift, which is the goal, and not the means to achieve the goal. The means are only transient.

A Mitzva is called “work”; the reward is called the “fruits” obtained through the work, and fruits are regarded as Torah, which is the gift that one obtains through the work. The path of the work is called “faith,” by which one obtains the quality of Torah, and the Torah itself is the gift that one obtains, which is the reward that one obtains after the completion of the work.