Bava Kamma 17a
Teaching Others is Far Superior
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Passage Content
With regard to the honor given to King Hezekiah, he said:
Nowadays, we even say: This one fulfilled that which is written in this,
but we do not say: He taught that which is written in this,
which was a unique honor performed
at the burial of the righteous King Hezekiah.
Question: Isn't Torah study is great because the study of Torah
leads to one’s performance of the mitzvos?
Answer: This indicates that the performance of mitzvos
is considered of greater value than Torah study.
If so, once Hezekiah had been praised with the fact
that he fulfilled the mitzvos of the Torah,
Question: Why mention that he studied it?
Answer: This idea is about studying the Torah
refers to one’s own knowledge.
But the unique praise given to King Hezekiah
was about teaching the Torah to others.
Nowadays, we even say: This one fulfilled that which is written in this,
but we do not say: He taught that which is written in this,
which was a unique honor performed
at the burial of the righteous King Hezekiah.
Question: Isn't Torah study is great because the study of Torah
leads to one’s performance of the mitzvos?
Answer: This indicates that the performance of mitzvos
is considered of greater value than Torah study.
If so, once Hezekiah had been praised with the fact
that he fulfilled the mitzvos of the Torah,
Question: Why mention that he studied it?
Answer: This idea is about studying the Torah
refers to one’s own knowledge.
But the unique praise given to King Hezekiah
was about teaching the Torah to others.