81. One's Son vs. Other Students

Talmud Torah 1:3

Another difference between the obligation to teach one’s own son Torah and the obligation to teach it to someone else’s son: one is obligated to hire a teacher for his own son but he is not required to incur any expense in order to teach another person’s son.

If a male was not taught Torah by his father, he is required to arrange for his own education when he is old enough to understand. Deuteronomy 5:1 says, “You shall study them and take care to perform them.” We regularly find that study takes priority over action because study brings about actions but actions do not bring about study.

Talmud Torah 1:4

If a man wants to study Torah and he has a son whom he is obligated teach Torah, his own study takes priority over his son’s. If his son is wiser and more insightful, with greater potential, then his son takes priority. However, even in a case where the son takes priority, the father must not neglect his own studies. Just as he is obligated to educate his son, he must also educate himself.