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What Is Birchot HaTorah? 🕍

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The Daily Halacha Moment - Birchot HaTorah 🕍



״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)



“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)



Question:

What is Birchot HaTorah?



Answer:

Birchot HaTorah are blessings recited before engaging in the study of Torah. They express gratitude to Hashem for giving the Torah and sanctifying us with its commandments.



There are essentially three parts to Birchot HaTorah:


La'asok B'divrei Torah - Blessing on the engagement in Torah study.


V'ha'arev Na - Asking for the Torah to be sweet in our mouths and the mouths of our descendants.


Asher Bachar Banu - Praising God for choosing the Jewish people to receive the Torah.



Deoraita or Derabanan?

The obligation of Birchot HaTorah is a matter of debate. Some authorities maintain that it is a Torah-level obligation, while others contend that it is of rabbinic origin. [1] Because of the dispute in the Rishonim as to whether these berachot are Deoraita or Derabanan the rule of Safek Brachot LeHakel still applies.



Importance:

One should be meticulous in reciting Birchot HaTorah before engaging in learning.[2] These blessings should be recited with great joy, appreciating the privilege and fortune of being chosen to receive the Torah. [3]


The Gemara (Nedarim 81a) states that the First Bet HaMikdash and Israel were destroyed because the Jews failed to recite Birchot HaTorah. The Bach (47:1) explains that their intent in learning Torah was merely to acquire knowledge and boast in their wisdom, rather than internalizing the holiness of the Torah into their body and soul. This lack of spiritual integration led to the removal of Hashem’s Shechina. That being said, one should be especially careful in reciting Birchot HaTorah, as they express gratitude and appreciation for Hashem's gift of the Torah to the Jewish people. [4]



Sources:


[1]. Ramban in Sefer HaMitzvot of the Rambam adds Birkat HaTorah as a Mitzvah Deoraita based on Gemara Brachot which learns these brachot from the pasuk “Ki Shem Hashem Ekrah Havu Godel LeElokenu". See Mishkenot Yaakov OC 43 and Mishnah Berurah 47:1 for more details. See Ramban there and Minchat Chinuch 430:5 who classify these berachot as berachot of praise (Birkot HaShevach).


[2]. Shulchan Aruch 47:1.


[3]. Mishna Berurah 47:4


[4]. Shulchan Aruch 47:1.



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