The fourth reason people are negligent about studying Torah in their home is because they spend their time reading newspapers and the like. It goes without saying that if these papers have forbidden content such as mockery or heresy they are clearly forbidden and whoever reads them will be punished severely. But even those that have only interesting news items from world event are still a severe obstacle, for a person who spends time reading them is like a person who knowingly changes good bank notes for forgeries, and will soon need to burn them lest he be caught with them in his possession.  So too, is a person who was given time to earn eternal reward and wasted it with useless papers that will buy him nothing.

When this person is asked by the Heavenly tribunal, did you read, did you read again (referring to Torah study)? He might erroneously answer, indeed I did (referring to the newspapers). Woe to such a person, woe to such utter embarrassment.