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