The Mitzvah of Talmud Torah

(17) Shimon, his son, used to say: all my days I grew up among the sages, and I have found nothing better for a person than silence. Study is not the most important thing, but actions; whoever indulges in too many words brings about sin.

(5) Rabbi Ishmael his son said: He who learns in order to teach, it is granted to him to study and to teach; But he who learns in order to practice, it is granted to him to learn and to teach and to practice. Rabbi Zadok said: do not make them a crown for self-exaltation, nor a spade with which to dig. So too Hillel used to say, “And he that puts the crown to his own use shall perish.” Thus you have learned, anyone who derives worldly benefit from the words of the Torah, removes his life from the world.

(8) Concerning two who ask questions. One asked on the subject and the other asked not on the subject, attention should be paid to the subject; about a rule of practice and about a matter not touching practice, attention should be paid to practice; law and homiletics, attention should be paid to law; homiletics and legend, attention should be paid to homiletics; legend and inference from minor to major, attention should be paid to minor and major; inference from minor to major and inference from a similarity of phrases, attention should be paid to the inference from minor to major. If, of the two questioners, one was a master and the other a student, attention should be paid to the master; a student and an ignoramous, attention should be paid to the student; if both were masters, or both students, or both ignoramouses, or both ask two treatises, or two responses, or two questions concerning two rules of practice, the interpreter has discretionary powers under such circumstances.

(1) The sages taught in the language of the mishnah. Blessed be He who chose them and their teaching. Rabbi Meir said: Whoever occupies himself with the Torah for its own sake, merits many things; not only that but he is worth the whole world.He is called beloved friend; one that loves God; one that loves humankind; one that gladdens God; one that gladdens humankind. And the Torah clothes him in humility and reverence, and equips him to be righteous, pious, upright and trustworthy; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to merit. And people benefit from his counsel, sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is said, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine” (Proverbs 8:14). And it bestows upon him royalty, dominion, and acuteness in judgment. To him are revealed the secrets of the Torah, and he is made as an ever-flowing spring, and like a stream that never ceases. And he becomes modest, long-suffering and forgiving of insult. And it magnifies him and exalts him over everything.