Contrasting בירורים (even by מצות לא תעשה) with נסיונות, the רבי explains how נסיונות are not a true existence - as by the 'river' in the story of the עקידה - and that is how a איד passes tests - by remembering that they are only passing tests!

This explains the עבודה of the פריערדיקער רבי in prison, making a firm resolution not to be intimidated by them - being that they are not a true existence. (See linked שיחה.)

Continuing on into the main part of the מאמר, the רבי sets out to explain at length the difference between בירורים and נסיונות, beginning with the overall explanation of the reason for the נשמה's drastic descent into this world.

The רבי finishes the מאמר's opening part by showing how אברהם's עבודה of מסירות נפש came from his יחידה.

This opens up the מאמר's discussion of the difference between the עבודה of בירורים and that of נסיונות:

While בירורים means to work with the object, נסיונות is to distance oneself from it. Whereas בירורים is engagement with this world, נסיונות is the disengagement from it.

This שיעור begins with a lengthy introduction to the מאמר's history, specifically connecting it with the miracle of the Entebbe raid that happened the week that this מאמר was said. (We also delve into the history of how מאמרים מלוקט began.)

The מאמר begins with the פסוק of "נתת ליראיך", and how this פסוק is referring to the עבודה of נסיונות that demands מסירות נפש, which comes from the יחידה of the נשמה.