DEUT271 It is a positive commandment to learn Torah and to teach it as Scripture states, and you shall teach them diligently to your children [this verse]. It is a religious duty that the words of the Torah should be sharp and clear in a person's mouth, and that he should not stammer over them. Whether one is poor or rich, or young or old; whether he is a man laden with suffering, a poor person sustained by charity who makes the rounds knocking on doors for alms -- he is duty-bound to set himself a fixed time for Torah study both by day and at night; for Scripture says, but you shall meditate in it day and night (Yehoshu'a 1:8). And he is duty-bound to study till the day of his death, for Scripture states, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life (D'varim 4:9). A religious duty lies on a father to study [Torah] with his son; he [the son] takes precedence over others. He also has an obligation to study with the son of his son, as Scripture says, and you shall make them known to your children and your children's children (ibid.). From the time a small child begins to speak, his father is to teach from Torah, saying (with him) the verse, Moses commanded us Torah (ibid. 33:4); and he has a duty to hire a teacher for him. A woman is free of the obligation of Torah study. Nevertheless, it is fitting for her to strive that her children should not be ignoramuses. The study of Torah is equal in importance to all the mitzvoth, since learning leads to action.