Dear Samuel,

The Shulchan Aruch (YD 246:1) writes in the laws of learning Torah, "All Jewish men must learn Torah ... and one who does not learn Torah at all because he does not know how or due to other bothers should support the learners." The Rama adds, "It is considered as if he learned himself. And a person can make a condition with his friend that one will learn and the other will support him and split the reward - but after one learns, his reward cannot be sold for money."

The Bi'ur ha'Gra brings as the source the Midrash Rabah Bereishis 99:9 that Zevulun precedes Yisachar because Yisachar learned Torah and Zevulun brought him all his needs.

a)Zevulun the Torah supporter is a partner in Yisachar's learning since the learning is possible only through his support. Some have a contract written.

b)There are opinions concerning whether the learner loses partial reward because it goes to the supporter.

Whether support means enough money to make ends meet, or to live comfortably or even to split earnings 50-50 (See Shach 246:2) is quite complicated and cannot be dealt with in this forum. See at length Yisachar v'Zevulun by Rabbi Efraim Sternbuch.

All the best,

Reuven Weiner