DEUT685 One who shares one's money with the needy will attain wealth. One who shares one's Torah knowledge with others will attain greater wisdom. On this verse the Talmud (Taanis 9a) states, "Tithe in order that you become wealthy." Rabbi Shimon Shkop wrote that we must realize that one of our main functions in this world is to help others. This is included in our obligation to emulate God who constantly aids mankind. Just as a person who was appointed to be in charge of dispensing a certain amount of money and properly carries out his duties will be entrusted with large amounts of money in the future, so too does God deal with man. If a person takes tithes from his income, that is, he distributes part of his wealth to the poor and to other worthy causes, he shows that he is a reliable treasurer and God will entrust him with greater wealth. The same applies to Torah knowledge. The Talmud (see Makos 10a) states that a person can derive more knowledge from his students than from colleagues or teachers. This can be understood on a simple level. When students ask questions, they stimulate the teacher to think and search for answers. But this can also be understood on a deeper level. A person is not given wisdom solely for himself. He must share his Torah knowledge with others. If someone will prove himself to be a reliable custodian of Torah knowledge and will transmit this knowledge to others, God will bestow upon him even greater wisdom. (Rabbi Shimon Shkop in Introduction to Shaarey Yoshor). Rabbi Moshe Feinstein has said in regard to teaching: "There is no question that a person's primary obligation is to his own (Torah) studies." One can never say that he has amassed enough to meet his personal needs, for the Torah is longer than the earth and broader than the sea (Eyov 11:1). One must therefore give his own studies precedence, but this must not be absolute. A person must also act on behalf of others. "In the case of charity, one must give a tenth of one's income to the poor (Yorah Daiah 249:1). Likewise, one must spend one-tenth of one's time working on behalf of others, bringing them close to the Torah. If a person is endowed with greater resources, he must correspondingly spend more of his time with others." (Jewish Observer, June 1973).