...Continued from previous week
1) Reciting the bracha of ahavah rabah/ahavas olam exempts you from reciting Birchos Hatorah. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 47:7)
It is best to specifically have this intent in mind when relying on this. (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 14 and Biur Halacha dibur hamaschil poteres)
Thus if one did not recite Birchos Hatorah before davening, once ahava rabbah/ahavas olam is recited, he/she may no longer recite them.
2) If one relied upon ahava rabbah/ahavas olam to exempt Birchos Hatorah, it is imperative to remember to learn some Torah immediately after finishing to daven. The rest of the davening that he recites between ahava rabbah/ahavas olam and the learning is not considered an interruption. (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 15)
If Torah was not immediately learnt, the recital of Birchos Hatorah will be necessary before commencing to learn later on that day, according to most poskim. (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 17 and biur halacha dibur hamaschil v'yesh l'histapek. See Shulchan Aruch Harav Siman 47:6 where he rules not to recite them again as we can rely on the minority opinion that the reading of krias shema in davening can suffice for the "Torah learning" that followed the recital of ahava rabbah/ahavas olam)
3) L’chatchilah, one should not rely on the bracha of ahava rabbah/ahavas olam to exempt his/her Birchos Hatorah and should rather recite the Birchos Hatorah immediately following Birchos Hashachar. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 47:8)
4) If one already began pesukei d'zimrah and remembered that he didn't yet recite Birchos Hatorah, he should interrupt the pesukei d'zimrah, recite Birchos Hatorah and then resume pesukei d'zimrah, as in order to recite the pesukim of pesukei d'zimrah, Birchos Hatorah is first required, according to some opinions. (See Mishna Berura Siman 51 S”K 10. See also shu""t yabia omer vol. 4 Siman 7)
If, however, one already began the bracha of yotzer ohr, he shouldn't interrupt, and indeed have in mind by ahava rabbah/ahavas olam to exempt Birchos Hatorah. (ruling of the Mishna Berura Siman 52 S”K 9. See also Shu”t Yabia Omer ibid. Where he rules that here too you should interrupt and recite Birchos Hatorah)
5) According to some opinions, it is permitted to think Torah thoughts before reciting Birchos Hatorah. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 47:4)
6) Others maintain that Birchos Hatorah is required even before thinking Torah thoughts. (Ruling of the Gaon of Vilna. See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 7 and biur halacha dibur hamaschil hameharher. See also Shu”t Har Tzvi orach chaim vol. 1 Siman 42)
7) If reading Torah thoughts from a sefer, it may be considered more than just thinking Torah thoughts and thus it is surely best to recite Birchos Hatorah first. (See Mor U'ktzia Siman 47)
Hearing words of Torah from someone (e.g. Listening to a live or recorded shiur on a Torah topic) according to many poskim, is more stringent than just thinking Torah thoughts and surely requires Birchos hatora beforehand. (see Sha'arei Teshuva Siman 47:2. See also Shu”t Haelef Lecha Shlomo Siman 35 where he rules more leniently in this matter)
8) There is a dispute amongst the poskim if writing Torah thoughts requires Birchos Hatorah beforehand. Thus, it is best to recite Birchos Hatorah and recite some words of Torah before commencing to write words of Torah. (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 4)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
