I don’t see the difference…

The fine line is hard to notice

But the distinction is almost divine

Truly Sublime

One stone is worth ten cents

And the other’s worth is truly immense

Radical transformation

Does not take knowing more information

It can happen in a second

It can happen in a moment

You might not even notice

The radical change

This might sound strange

The difference between comfort and discomfort

Can be the change of one degree

Do you agree?

“The difference between Heaven and Hell

Is sliver thin[1]”

Don’t give me that grin

What does this mean?

I’m not sure

For sure

What do you think?

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[1] This is based on the words of the Medrash (Yalkut Shimoni Koheles remez 976) “the space between Gan Eden and Gehinom is only a tefach (handbreadth)”.

This concept was explained by the Rebbe of Pershischa (Tzfunos Vol. 15) that you can have to men that learn Torah day and night, they both wake up at midnight for tikun chatzos yet one will go to Gan Eden and the other will go to Gehinom.  Why?  Although they look so similar, one is learning Torah for self-glorification, while the other is learning leshmo (for G-d).

Some explain this based on the words of the Talmud Yerushalmi (Brochos 5:2) “If one does not have Daas (understanding) you can do Havdala (literally separation) [explaining why on Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night) we make the Havdala prayer of Shmone Esrei in the blessing that asks for knowledge], because to make important separation and distinction you need wisdom and knowledge.

This quote is very common Mussur books, See Daas Chochma U’Mussar (Vol. 1 p. 247), Simchas Yisroel (p. 75), Or Yechezkal (Vol. 2 p. 101).