...Continued from previous week
1) According to many Poskim (including Rashba, Sefer Hachinuch, Rambam [according to the interpretation of the Aruch HaShulchan Siman 47:2], and others) Birchos HaTorah are a biblical obligation. (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 1)
Others (including Rambam [according to the interpretation of the Sha'agas Aryeh], Levush, and Ma'amar Mordechai) maintain that it is a rabbinic obligation. We are stringent and are concerned for the latter opinion, and thus if one isn't sure if he recited them or if one was awake all night, he/she should not say them him/herself and should rather hear them from someone else or have in mind by the blessing of "ahava rabba"/"ahavas olam" to satisfy the obligation. (See Mishna Berura ibid.)
2) The following 3 brachos form "Birchos HaTorah", and each serves a unique purpose (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 47:5):
- ...Asher kideshanu...La'asok b'divrei Torah (a Birchas hamitzvos. Necessary as learning Torah is a mitzvah like many other mitzvos that require a bracha before performing them)
- V'haarev na...V'nih'yeh anachnu v'tzetza'enu... (Birchas hanehenin. Necessary as learning Torah and doing mitzvos is full of sweetness and enjoyment like other pleasurable things in life that require a bracha before we may partake of the pleasures)
- ...Asher bachar banu mikal haamim...(Birchas hashevach. (Necessary as we must praise and thank hashem for giving us his holy Torah, which is the most valuable gift in the entire universe, as it transforms us from lowly creatures into spiritual, lofty vehicles of kedusha etc. See Tur Siman 47. See Taz Siman 47:5 that this bracha is signed off with " Nosein HaTorah", present tense, and not "Nasan HaTorah", past tense, as Hashem constantly gives us the Torah anew each day, and allows us to constantly delve deeper and find new understanding in its holy words.)
3) Immediately after reciting Birchos HaTorah, some Torah must be learnt, and it is prohibited to make an interruption between the brachos and the learning. (Ruling of the Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 19 and most Poskim, who argue on the Mechaber, Siman 47:9, who is more lenient.)
4) Therefore, the custom was instituted to recite the pesukim of Birchas kohanim, "yevarechecha Hashem v'yishmirecah..." and the Mishnah of "eilu devarim she'ain lahem shiur..." and the Talmudic statement of "ailu devarim she'adam ochel peiroseihem...", immediately following Birchos HaTorah . (See Mishna Berura Siman 47 S”K 20 and 21 that these satisfy mikrah, Mishna and gemara, the 3 main varieties of Torah learning)
5) 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.
6) 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)
7) 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)
8) 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)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
