"For Ezra had dedicated himself to study the Teaching of the Lord so as to observe it, and to reach laws and rules to Israel." (Ezra 7:10)
"The Holy One, blessed be He, says: If a man occupies himself with the study of the Torah and with works of charity and prays with the congregation, I account it to him as if he had redeemed Me and My children from among the nations of the world."
(Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot, 8a)