You shall reprove your comrade"— even one hundred times. Therefore I cannot contain myself and refrain from crying out again, in a voice betraying weakness. I plead with you, out of deep compassion have mercy on your souls. Take care, be painstaking to an extreme concerning Torah and the service of the heart which is worship with kavana, proper intention. All should begin in unison, as one, word by word, not one here and another elsewhere, one mute and the other idly chatting— may G‑d protect us. The main cause and instigator of damage comes from those leading the worship. That office is abandoned to whoever wishes to stride forth and seize the honour, or because not even one desires it...

For this reason, this is the counsel offered, and an amendment established as law not to be violated further, G‑d forbid. That is, select specified people fit for this office, by lot or by consent of the majority of the worshippers. These shall be men who worship word by word, moderately, out loud, neither overly prolonging the prayers nor racing intemperately, G‑d forbid. Theirs is the duty to lead the prayers, each on his day as determined. He shall assemble close around him all those who worship at least with some voice, not whispering nor rushing, G‑d forbid. This is amplified in ancient amendments in many cities.

I come now to renew them, to strengthen and invigorate them, never again to be weakened, G‑d forbid. (Gevald! Gevald!) How long will this be an obstacle for us! Have we not sufficient reproofs and troubles that have overtaken us!— may G‑d protect and console us with two-fold salvation, and purify our hearts to serve Him in truth. Strengthen and fortify your hearts, all who hope in G‑d.

Also: complete the entire Talmud every single year and in every community by apportioning the tractates by lot or by consent. In a city with numerous synagogues, each congregation shall complete (the Talmud). If a congregation is too small to implement (this programme), they shall join to themselves men of some large congregation. This statute shall not be varied or violated. Each of the participants shall individually conclude Psalm 119 weekly.

Since, due to the frailty of the generation, not every one is capable of fasting as he ought, the counsel offered is the declaration of our Sages, of blessed memory, "Whoever observes Shabbat according to its halacha (law), is forgiven all his sins." Note, according to its law. Therefore it is incumbent upon every individual to master the major laws of Shabbat.

Also, be most careful not to indulge in idle chatter, G‑d forbid. For it is known to the initiates in the esoteric science, that in all mitzvot there are the internal and the external aspects. The externality of Shabbat is the cessation of physical labour, just as G‑d ceased making physical heaven and earth. The internal aspect of Shabbat is the kavana (intention) in the Shabbat prayers and Torah study, to cleave to the One G‑d, as it is said, "It is Shabbat to the Lord your G‑d." This is the state of "Remember." The state of "Observe" in the inwardness (of Shabbat) is refraining from speech about material affairs, as G‑d ceased from the Ten Utterances through which physical heaven and earth were created. For one parallel to the other ...