אַז מעֶן געֶהְט אִין גאַס דאַרְף מעֶן טְראַכְטעֶן דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה צִי אִין מַחֲשָׁבָה צִי אִין דִּבּוּר, דאָס וועֶנְדט זִיך, צִי מעֶן מעֶג עַל פִּי דִין רֵיידעֶן דאָרְטעֶן דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה. אָבּעֶר אַז עֶר געֶהט אוּן אִיז נִיט פאַרְנוּמעֶן אִין דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה, זאָגְט אִים דעֶר שְׁטֵיין אוֹיף וועֶמעֶן עֶר טְרעֶט: בּוּלאַך (גּוֹלָם) וואָס טְרעֶטסְטוּ אוֹיף מִיר? מִיט וואָס בִּיסְטוּ העֶכעֶר פאַר מִיר?

One ought to think about words of Torah when walking down the street,1 either verbalizing them or not, depending upon whether one is permitted to speak words of Torah in that place.2 When one walks down the street without being occupied with words of Torah, the cobblestone on which he treads tells him: “Blockhead, who are you to be treading on me? What makes you better than me?”3

Delving Deeply

G‑d created everything with a purpose. Thus, every gift and potential carries with it a responsibility. Both the qualities bestowed uniquely on mankind and the distinctive strengths with which a particular individual has been endowed were given so that they will be expressed in the service of G‑d, through the study of Torah and the observance of mitzvos. If a person does not use his potential in this way, he not only forfeits an opportunity for growth; he falls lower than the lesser levels of creation, for they are fulfilling their purpose in creation while he is not.4