154 – Praiseworthy is he who contemplates the needy (d) / Part III, Chapter seven
There is also a person who is literally “needy” in knowledge — he is poor of Torah, and one must give thought and contemplation as to how best to draw the fellow’s heart to Torah. This is a very great thing, as our Sages said: “He who teaches Torah to his neighbor’s son will be privileged to sit in the Heavenly Academy” (Bava Metzia 85a); and elsewhere they taught: “He who teaches Torah to his neighbor’s son it is as though he created him” (Sanhedrin 99b). One must feel compassion towards such people just as one would feel compassion if he saw people who had no clothing, for in the Upper World “clothing” and “jewelry” are made through the Torah study [learned in this world], and through this the person merits sitting before Hashem in the Hall of His Sanctuary.