I've been learning Torah for over 70 years, and been involved in outreach on a full-time basis for almost forty. Without a doubt, the single most remarkable statement I have ever seen regarding Kiruv is found in the sefer Chovos Halevavos -- The Duties of the Heart.

The Chovos Halevavos states:

You should know, my brother, that even if a believer were to attain the utmost limit in the improvement of his own soul in his devotion to G-d; and even if he were to approach the level of the prophets as far as their personal virtues, their praiseworthy conduct, their effort in serving G-d, and their pure love for Him are concerned, his merits would not equal those of one who guides others to the right path and directs the wicked to the service of the Creator. (Duties of the Heart: Gate of Loving G-d, Perek 6)

A person can raise himself to the level of the angels. He can be an angel in his spiritual understanding, an angel in his business dealings, an angel in his relationships with other people, completely l'shem shomayim, serving G-d with all his heart, yet the Chovos Halevavos states clearly: He cannot compare to someone who teaches other people about G-d. Rather, someone who has the privilege to teach other people that there is a G-d has achieved more than those who have scaled the heights of self-perfection.

One of the fundamental tenets of Judaism is that we cannot judge another human being or his mitzvos. One person's bracha can be worth more than another person's saving of a life. How? Because the first may have meant his blessing from the heart while overcoming temptations, and the second person may have done his act routinely. The Almighty is the ultimate judge. But here the Chovos Halevavos clearly states that one involved in Kiruv is greater than the most devout and learned Jew!

The author of the Chovos Halevavos is not someone to take lightly. He has been considered an authority by every generation of Jews for the last 900 years. We do not question the legitimacy of his words, but still, one needs to understand how this is possible!

The Mishna (Avos 5:2) states that there were ten generations from Adam until Noach. This chronology comes to teach us how patient the Almighty is. Each of these generations were continuously angering and aggravating the Almighty, and yet He did not punish them until ten generations had passed. For ten generations, He was patient. He gave them one chance, another chance, another chance, another chance, until finally "the dam broke." He brought the flood and destroyed all of mankind, except for Noach and his family. Then, as listed in the next Mishna (Avos 5:3) the next ten generations, from Noach to Avraham, also continuously angered the Almighty, until Avraham Avinu came along, received the reward of all these generations and saved mankind.

Why was it only Avraham who saved the world? Shem and Ever lived during this time; they had a yeshiva - a great yeshiva! Avraham himself studied there; Yitzchak studied there; Yaakov Avinu studied there for 14 years!

The Rambam (Hilchos Avodas Kochavim 1:1-3) explains that the world's downward spiral from monotheism to idolatry began with Enosh (Adam's grandson) and continued until Avraham Avinu discovered G-d and began his mission of re-educating the world about Monotheism.

Concerning this, the Raavad asks, where were Shem and Ever? They knew the truth; why did they not protest against the rampant idolatry around them?

The Kesef Mishne answers: Shem and Ever were great, righteous men; prophets who taught Torah and had perfected themselves to the utmost. But they were lacking one thing that Avraham Avinu had.

What was it that made Avraham Avinu unique? The Chumash tells us "Vayikra b'Shem Hashem" -- "He called out in the name of Hashem" (Bereishis 13:4). He traveled around, teaching people that there's one G-d. He told the idol worshippers, "You're mistaken! There's only one G-d, a G-d who created all of us, who loves us, who takes care of us...worshipping rocks and trees is nonsense!"

Shem and Ever taught Torah long before Avraham Avinu was born. They were the son and grandson of Noach and lived through ten generations, loyally serving G-d. But they failed to go out to the idol worshippers, to teach them and draw them in. They limited themselves to those students who came to their yeshiva and sought to learn. Therefore, for ten generations, the Almighty was continuously angered -- despite the efforts of Shem and Ever -- until Avraham Avinu came upon the scene.

But why is going out to teach others about G-d so significant?

The answer to this question can be found in Orchos Tzadikim, Shaar Ratzon. There the author cites a statement from the Midrash:

"In the world to come, all will marvel about those who listened to G-d, saying, 'How is it that this lowly one who did not read Torah and did not study Gemara is sitting with the Fathers and conversing with them?' And G-d will answer: 'What are you marveling about? These merited only because they listened to me in their lifetime, as it is written (Mishlei 15:31): "The ear that hears the reproof of life will live amongst the wise" ' " (Agadas Bereishis 84)

In the world to come, everyone will wonder in astonishment at the person who listened to the words of G-d, asking, "Who is this fellow? He didn't learn Chumash; he didn't learn Mishna; and yet he's sitting and conversing with our Avos: Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov! Where are the gatekeepers? Where's the security? What kind of corruption is going on here?" Nobody will be able to explain it. But the Almighty, Himself, will answer: Why are you so surprised? There's no difference between Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, and the rest of humanity, except that the Avos listened to Me, as it says "Ozen shoma'as tochachas chayim b'kerev chachamim talin" -- "The ear that hears the reproof of life will live amongst the wise." The Avos listened to Me; that's the essence of what made them different. Similarly, this person, although uneducated, sincerely listened to Me.

Anyone who sincerely listens to the Almighty is going to achieve this, and the rest of us will look on in astonishment and say, "How did this seemingly ignorant person achieve so much?!"

The Maggid of Dubno explains this same point with the following parable: There was a gentleman, a talmid chochom, a very wealthy man, who reached the age of 70. In the olden days, when you reached 70, you made a celebration, because it meant you had lived a normal life span. We all hope to reach 120, but you were considered blessed with long life if you lived 70 years, and therefore, you gave thanks to the Almighty.

And so the old man planned a great party. As part of his preparations, he sent a letter to his two sons living in another country and said, "I want you and your families to attend my party, to celebrate with me. It will be a great honor to have my sons with me. Do not be concerned about the expense. Anything you spend in my honor, I'll give you back twenty times. If you spend a thousand dollars; I'll give you twenty thousand. If you spend twenty thousand; I'll give you four hundred thousand..."

The older son was a man of means. He heard the offer, and of course went out and bought the nicest carriage, the nicest clothes for his wife and children, because the more you spend, the more you get back. He and his family entered the carriage, dressed in all their finery, and began the journey to the father's home.

On the way, he passes by his younger brother's home. Now his younger brother was a poor fellow with no money at all. He could not even borrow, because no one would give him credit. He couldn't buy clothes for the party or even afford to travel there. Suddenly his wealthy brother appears at his door and says, "You're not coming?"

And the poor brother answers, "I couldn't borrow the money to rent a carriage."

"No problem, gather your family and you'll travel in mine." So the poor brother and his family climb into the carriage and off they all go to the party. The older brother, his wife and children, in all their finery, and the younger son, his wife and children, in their worn and patched clothing.

After the grand party, the older brother approaches his father and says, "I spent close to 50,000 dollars preparing to come. According to your offer, I am entitled to one million dollars for my expenses."

The father looks at him and said, "I'm not giving you a penny."

"What do you mean?" asks his son. "You made a deal!"

"I said, anything you spend to honor me, I'll give you back twenty times. But you didn't spend any of that money for my honor; you spent it for your own."

"Huh?"

"Was it an honor to me that your younger brother showed up in rags and his older brother didn't even help him out? If you cared about my honor you would have taken care of your brother and his family as well! Then you would have deserved 20 times your expenses."

Do you hear the Almighty? The entire Jewish people are being led astray. It's a Chillul Hashem of historic proportions. How do we even raise our heads? There are approximately five million Jews in America, and the latest population study says, 25% - that's one million two hundred fifty thousand of them - are practicing a religion other than Judaism. Do you think they found these faiths more enlightening than our Torah? Or were they so ignorant of their own heritage that the non-Jews won them over without even a fight? We left our brothers to perish at our front door! What are we going to answer?

Those of us who are concerned with the Almighty's honor and with listening to Him, take this seriously. Show G-d you care about His honor; show Him you want to listen and have a portion of this greatest of mitzvahs. If you do, you will not only be benefiting your Jewish brothers and sisters; you will also be entitling yourself to the most rewarding reimbursement plan possible!!