We also learn from this pasuk that learning Torah must lead to positive actions. The pasuk says that if one follows Hashem’s laws, which Rashi says refers to learning Torah, and then says; “And you will keep My mitzvos and do them.” This means that learning Torah must lead to doing good deeds.
It is related that one of the prime students of the Ben Ish Chai moved to Yerushalaim and began learning b’chavrusah with a scholar who was younger than him. They learned Shulchan Aruch together, and when they reached the halachos of kibud av v’eim, the Ben Ish Chai’s student asked his chavrusah, “When your mother walks into the room, do you stand up to your full height?”
The chavrusah answered that he doesn’t do that; however, he does rise a bit from his seat in her honor.
He immediately told him, “I cannot learn with you anymore. Torah is not just a ‘history book’. You have to fulfill every mitzvah. I can’t learn with you until you fix this problem!”
The next day, the chavrusah came back and said that when his mother entered the room, he stood up to his full height. He then agreed to learn with him again.
