Joodse traditie als permanent leren

175.

open a school, his neighbours cannot prevent him. Nor can a teacher, already established, object to another teacher opening a school next door to him, either for new pupils or even with the intention of drawing away pupils from the existing school, for it is said, "The Lord was pleased for His righteousness' sake, to make the Torah great and glorious" (Is. 42-21).

((The Crowrf of the Torah - Its Claim to Priority)) With three crowns was Israel crowned - with the crown of the Torah, with the crown of the priesthood and with the crown of sovereignty. The crown of the priesthood was bestowed upon Aaron, as it is said, "And it shall be unto him and unto his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood" (Num. 25: 13). The crown of sovereignty was conferred upon David, as it is said, "His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me" (Ps. 89 '37). The crown of the Torah, however, is for all Israel, as it is said, "Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob" (Deut. 33.' 4). Whoever desires it can win it. Do not suppose that the other two crowns are greater than the crown of the Torah, for it is said, "By me, kings reign and princes decree justice. By me, princes rule" (Prov. 8:15-16). Hence the inference, that the crown of the Torah is greater than the other two crowns. The sages said, "A bastard who is a scholar takes precedence of an ignorant High Priest, for it is said, 'More precious it is than rubies' (Prov. 3:15), that is (more to be honoured is the scholar) than the High Priest who enters the innermost sanctuary. (A play upon the word Peninim ((rubies)) taken as Lifny v'lifnim ((High Priest who entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement)) ). " Of all precepts, none is equal in importance to the study of the Torah. Nay, study of the Torah is equal to them all, for study leads to practice. Hence, study always takes precedence of practice. If the opportunity of fulfilling a specific precept would interrupt the study of the Torah and the precept can be performed by others, one should not intermit study. Otherwise, the precept should be performed and then the study be resumed.

At the judgment hereafter, a man will first be called to account in regard to his fulfillment of the duty of study and afterwards concerning his other activities. Hence, the sages said, "A person should