The Practice of Talmud Torah HC Orientation - Av 5782

It is found in the holy books, and I have heard thus from my teachers who rest in Eden, that one of the foundations of service it to contemplate teshuvah before sitting to study Torah, or before engaging in an act of Mitzvah.

Our master and teacher, the rabbi, etc, the Hozeh of Lublin OBM, said that the verse "God said to the wicked - who are you to recite My laws" applies to a person who does not engage in teshuvah before studying Torah.

(16) And to the wicked, God said:
“Who are you to recite My laws,
and mouth the terms of My covenant, (17) seeing that you spurn My discipline,
and brush My words aside? (18) When you see a thief, you fall in with him,
and throw in your lot with adulterers; (19) you devote your mouth to evil,
and yoke your tongue to deceit; (20) you are busy maligning your brother,
defaming the son of your mother. (21) If I failed to act when you did these things,
you would fancy that I was like you;
so I censure you and confront you with charges.

And Rav Yosef says: Even with regard to a rabbi who forgoes her honor, her honor is forgone, as it is stated: “And the Lord went before them by day” (Exodus 13:21). Rava said: How can these cases be compared? There, with regard to the Holy, Blessed One, the world is Hers and the Torah is Hers, and therefore She can forgo Her honor. By contrast, here, is it her Torah, that the teacher can forgo its honor? Rava then said: Yes, if she studies, it is her Torah, as it is written: “For her delight is the Torah of the Lord, and in her Torah she meditates day and night” (Psalms 1:2).

Rava says, A person should always learn Torah in a place that her heart desires, as it is stated: “rather, her delight is in the Torah of the Lord.” And Rava also says: Initially the Torah is called by the name of the holy, blessed One, but ultimately it is called by the name of the one who studies it. As it is first stated: “her delight is in the Torah of the Lord,” and in the continuation of the verse it states: “And in her Torah she meditates day and night.”