Editing Torah study (section)

==Traditional view==
[[File:Visits the Mir Yeshiva, Bedomaich Chayi and Dor Yeshorim No.104 (6673330489).jpg|thumb|Students in the [[Mir Yeshiva (Jerusalem)|Mir Yeshiva, Jerusalem]], studying Talmud as a [[chavrusa]]]]
[[File:RoyLindmanRabbinicalSchoolJerusalem.jpg|right|thumb|A Torah class in Jerusalem]]
In [[rabbinic literature]], a heavy emphasis is placed on [[Torah]] study<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planning.lacity.org/odocument/cb3a43ec-8138-4517-95e1-3a1cf0947309/LosAngelesJewishHistoryContext.pdf|title=Los Angeles Citywide Historic Context Statement: Context: Jewish History (pg. 36)|date=December 2016|website=planning.lacity.org|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> for [[Jews|Jewish]] males, with women being exempt.<ref>Kiddushin 29b</ref> This literature teaches an eagerness for such study and a thirst for knowledge that expands beyond the text of the [[Tanakh]] to the entire [[Oral Torah]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-rabbi-and-the-kibbutznik/ | title=The rabbi and the kibbutznik}}</ref> Some examples of traditional religious teachings:

* The study of Torah is "equal to all" of the ''[[Mitzvah|mitzvot]]'' of [[Honour thy father and thy mother|honouring one's parents]], performing deeds of [[Chesed|lovingkindness]], and [[Judaism and peace#In the Torah|bringing peace between people]].<ref>Babylonian Talmud, {{cite web
   |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.127a?lang=bi
   |title=Shabbat 127a}} This paragraph was incorporated in the daily prayer service.</ref>
* In one sense, Torah study is greater than the honor of father and mother since it is one of the only commandments for which a person is allowed to move far away from his parents without their permission.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.16b.20?lang=bi&with=Halakhah&lang2=en Babylonian Talmud, Megilah 16b]</ref>
* Some Talmudic [[rabbi]]s consider Torah study as being greater than [[Pikuach nefesh|the rescue of human life]], but Jewish law does not codify this opinion<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.16b.18?lang=bi&with=Halakhah&lang2=en Babylonian Talmud, Megilah 16b]</ref> because saving a life overrides all other commandments except murder, incest, and idolatry.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.74a.12?lang=bi&with=Shulchan%20Arukh,%20Yoreh%20De'ah&lang2=en Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 74a]</ref>
* According to [[Rabbi Meir]], when one studies ''Torah Lishma'' (Torah for its own sake - תורה לשמה <ref>See discussion by [[Rambam]]: [[Mishneh_Torah#Contents|''Hilchot Teshuva'']] [https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/911914/jewish/Teshuvah-Chapter-Ten.htm#v5 10:5] and [[Mishnah#List_of_commentaries|commentary]] [https://www.sefaria.org/Rambam_on_Mishnah_Makkot.3.16.1?lang=he&with=Mishnah&lang2=he  on ''Makkot'' 3:16]</ref>) the creation of the entire world is worthwhile for him alone, and he brings joy to God.<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2122/jewish/Chapter-Six.htm Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 6:1]</ref>
* As the child must satisfy its hunger day by day, so must the grown man busy himself with the Torah each hour.<ref>Talmud Yerushalmi, Berakhot ch. 9</ref>
* Torah study is of more value than the offering of the [[Korban|daily sacrifice]].<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 63b</ref>
* A single day devoted to the Torah outweighs 1,000 ''korbanot'' (sacrifices).<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 30a, comp. Menachot 100a</ref>
* The fable of the Fish and the Fox, in which the latter seeks to entice the former to dry land, declares that [the People of] Israel can live only in the Law as fish can live only in the ocean.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/tgm/tgm20.htm Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 61b]</ref>
* Whoever learns Torah at night is granted grace during the day, and whoever neglects it will be fed burning coals in the [[Jewish eschatology|World to Come]].<ref name="3b">Babylonian Talmud, [[Avodah Zarah (tractate)|Avodah Zarah]], 3b</ref>
* God weeps over one who might have occupied himself with Torah study but neglected to do so.<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Hagigah 5b</ref>
* The study must be unselfish: one should study the Torah with self-denial, even at the sacrifice of one's life; and in the very hour before death one should devote himself to this duty.<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 83b</ref>
* All, even [[Tzaraath|lepers]] and the [[Tumah and taharah|ritually unclean]], are required to study the Torah.<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 22a</ref>
* It is the duty of everyone to read the entire [[weekly portion]] twice (the law of ''[[shnayim mikra ve-echad targum]]'').<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 8a</ref>
* According to R. Yehudah, God Himself studies the Torah for the first three hours of every day.<ref name="3b"/>
* According to Rabbi Meir, a [[gentile]] who studies the Torah (for the limited purpose of finding out about the [[Seven Laws of Noah]]) is as great as the [[High Priest of Israel|High Priest]].<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 3a</ref> An even stronger statement is found in the Mishnah where it discusses the social hierarchy of ancient Israel. The High Priest was close to the top of the social pyramid, and a man born from an illicit sexual relationship was near the bottom. However, 'the [[Talmid Chacham|learned]] [[Mamzer|bastard]] takes precedence over the [[Am ha'aretz|ignorant]] High Priest.'<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Horayoth 13a (English ed.) I. Epstein, Editor. London UK: the Soncino Press, 1935.</ref>
*Rabbi [[Tzvi Hirsch Chajes]] contended that the prohibition of teaching torah to Gentiles only applies to parts of the Oral Law, but not to the written Scriptures.<ref name=Jpost.Ask>{{cite news
   |url=https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Judaism/Ask-the-rabbi-May-a-Jew-teach-Torah-to-a-gentile
   |title=May a Jew teach Torah to a gentile|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post &#124; Jpost.com }}</ref>
*Rabbi [[Samuel Eidels]] said the prohibition only included the "reasons and secrets" of the Torah, but not the basic texts or laws.<ref name=Jpost.Ask/>
*[[Maimonides]] said that Christians, who believe in the divinity of Scriptures, would at best come to believe in the Jewish interpretation and at worse cause no harm, so the prohibition does not apply to them.<ref name=Jpost.Ask/>
*Rabbi [[Yisrael Salanter]] advocated for the translation of the Talmud and its introduction into the university curriculum, in order to raise the reputation of Jewish study in the broader world.<ref name=Jpost.Ask/>