Ideally a person should recite Birchas Hatorah as the new day begins. The Talmud considers a case where a person did not recite these blessings right away. Instead he began his prayers and recited the blessing that precedes Shema. The question considered is if that blessing of Ahava Rabboh will absolve him of his obligation to recite Birchas Hatorah because the essence of the blessing is so similar.

In this session we also discuss the text of Birchas Hatorah, and how often it should be recited.

For Hebrew text in pdf please click here

Quick Questions:
How many Birchos Hatorah are there?
What must one do if he wants Ahavah Rabboh to work as Birchas Hatorah?
What does it mean to learn Torah Lishmah (for its sake)?
Why is there no new Birchas Hatorah each time a person comes back to learn (unlike succah)?

Points You Don’t Want to Miss:

Regarding the evening Shema, Beis Shamai say one must be leaning (to fulfill “when you lay down,” literally), while Beis Hillel say one may stand when reciting the evening Shema. The talmud relates that Rabbi Yismoel was leaning and Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya was standing. When it was time for the evening Shema, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya lay down, whereupon Rabbi Yishmoel stood up!

Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya reacted with surprise. “I praised your position, and you decline to accept the compliment?!” It is like giving a person a compliment on his handsome beard, and he would respond, “So then cut it off.”

Rabbi Yishmoel explained, “Indeed, Beis Hillel hold that one may recline when saying Shema, so I could have remained in my position. But when you purposely reclined to recite Shema, I was concerned that the students observing our behavior would deduce that it is obligitory to recline. So I felt obligated to arise, so they would not assume an obligation which does not really exist.”

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A mourner (sitting Shiva for a close relative) is obligated in Mitzvos, except for Teffilin on the first day of Shiva. In the story of the prophet Yechezkel, he is told that his mourning is different, and he should wear the “adornment” (Teffilin) even on the first day of Shiva.

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