Engaging in Torah study is one of the pillars on which the world stands and is equal in value to many important mitzvot.

These are the matters that have no fixed measure:…performing acts of kindness and Torah study. These are the matters whose profits a person enjoys in this world, while the principal remains for him for the World to Come: honoring one’s father and mother, performing acts of kindness, and bringing peace between one person and another. And Torah study is equal to all of them.

Shimon the Righteous was among the last surviving members of the Great Assembly. He would say that the world stands on three matters: on the Torah, on the Temple service, and on performing acts of kindness. (Mishna Pe’a 1:1; Mishna Avot 1:2)