3. Torah Study - Talmud Torah
a) The Importance of Torah Study
Every Jew is required to set aside
time for the study of Torah by day and by night, as
it says "And you shall speak about it day and night".1,a
He should divide this time appropriately among the
written Torah, oral Torah, and Talmud (this last
refers to the reasoning by which laws are derived
from the Torah).b Torah study is as important as all
the other commandments combined because study leads to
action.c The way of Torah requires great effort, but
the reward is proportionate to the trouble taken.d
b) Teaching Torah
Every man who knows the Torah is commanded to teach
students, as it says "And you shall repeat them to
your sons" -- "these are your students".2,e A father
is required to teach his sons Torah, as it says
"And you shall teach them to your sons"3; and it
says "And you shall make them known to your sons
and your sons' sons".4,f If necessary, he is required
to hire a teacher to teach his sons.g Every community
is required to provide teachers for children.h If
a person was not taught by his father he is required
to teach himself, as it says "And you shall learn
them".5,f
A teacher of Torah must be a worthy person i and
should teach Torah only to worthy students.j The
teacher must be patient with his students and the
students must not be ashamed to admit that they do
not understand.k A person must respect his
teacher even more than his father, for his father
brought him into this world but his teacher brings him
into the world to come.l The sanctity of a house of
study is greater than that of a synagogue.m
c) Respect for Torah Scholars
We are commanded to respect a wise man even if
he is not our teacher, as it says "Rise up before
gray hair and honor the face of an old man" -- "of
one who has acquired wisdom".6,n Scholars should be
exempt from taxes and other services to the community
and should be given priority in all their affairs.o
A person who is disrespectful to a scholar or to a
rabbinical court or who scoffs at a rabbinical law or
a commandment is subject to excommunication; he
must keep apart from others, like a mourner, until
the ban is lifted from him.p
Sources: |
| 1. Joshua 1:8 |
a. 1:8 |
| 2. Deut. 6:7 and Sifrei on it |
b. 1:11 |
| 3. Deut. 11:19 |
c. 3:3 |
| 4. Deut 4:9 |
d. 3:12,1 |
| 5. Deut. 5:1 |
e. 1:2 |
| 6. Lev. 19:32 and Sifra on it |
f. 1:1-2 |
|
g. 1:3 |
|
h. 2:1 |
|
i. 2:3 |
|
j. 4:1 |
|
k. 4:4-5 |
|
l. 5:1 |
|
m. 4:9 |
|
n. 6:1 |
|
o. 6:10 |
|
p. 6:14,7:4 |
