Our Mishna on Amud Beis presents a cryptic concept, highlighting the potential power of just one mitzvah:

Anyone who performs one mitzvah has goodness bestowed upon him, his life is lengthened, and he inherits the land, i.e., life in the World-to-Come. And anyone who does not perform one mitzvah does not have goodness bestowed upon him, his life is not lengthened, and he does not inherit the land of the World-to-Come.

The Gemara goes on to explain that this "one mitzvah" refers to the mitzvah that tips the scales, upgrading one's status to having a majority of merits in their favor.

The Penei Yehoshua (ibid) refers to the Yerushalmi, which identifies this "one mitzvah" as a mitzvah that an individual takes upon themselves as a special priority and diligently observes without fail. Arvei Nachal (Naso 39-43) expands upon this idea by suggesting that each Jewish person has a unique mitzvah deeply rooted and connected to their soul. There's an innate attraction toward this particular mitzvah, an intuitive sense of its significance. The Ishbitzer (Beis Yaakov Vayechi 26) even posits that a Tzaddik, a righteous person, cannot transgress a mitzvah deeply tied to their soul and must even martyr themselves to uphold it.

The story of Rabbi Akiva's willingness to give up his life for a rabbinic mitzvah, such as washing hands (Eruvin 21b), is cited as an example of this deep connection to a specific mitzvah. It is also known that the Klausenberger Rebbe maintained their mitzvah observance, even in the most dire circumstances like Auschwitz, where he would eat touch non-kosher food, nor even use non-toiveled utensils and would fast on Tisha B'Av, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to certain mitzvos, even in life-threatening situations. 

(Also see Shach YD 157:2 where some hold that a righteous person may martyr himself even for a minor mitzvah when it is necessary to inspire others.)

The idea that each Jew may have a specific mitzvah deeply connected to their soul is indeed fascinating. It suggests that there may be an inherent, spiritual connection between an individual and a particular mitzvah that goes beyond rational explanation. If you find yourself passionately drawn to a specific mitzvah, it's worth recognizing and honoring that feeling, as it may be an expression of a unique connection between your soul and that particular commandment.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

Do you like what you see? Please subscribe and also forward any articles you enjoy to your friends, (enemies too, why not?)