Two Halachot a Day: Blessings Before Torah Study and a Powerful Lesson About Anger

Two daily halachot from Behalacha Uve'aggadah, based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory.

Is It Permitted to Think About Torah Before Reciting the Blessings Over Torah Study?

A person who wakes up in the morning may immediately reflect on Torah teachings, provided they do not verbalize them. Similarly, one may listen to a recorded Torah lecture or other audio Torah content immediately upon waking, even before reciting the blessings over Torah study (Birchot HaTorah).

However, it is proper to be stringent and refrain from studying directly from a Torah book until after reciting the blessings.

If someone is unsure whether they have already recited Birchot HaTorah, they should not repeat the blessings, in accordance with the fundamental halachic principle of safek berachot lehakel, which means that when there is uncertainty regarding the obligation to recite a blessing, we rule leniently and do not recite it again.

Nevertheless, it is preferable to ask someone who has not yet recited the blessings to say them with the intention of fulfilling the obligation on their behalf.

What Should Someone Do If They Forget to Recite the Blessings Over Torah Study?

If someone forgets to recite Birchot HaTorah and remembers during Pesukei Dezimra, they should recite only one blessing at that point: Asher Bachar Banu Mikol Ha'amim ("Who chose us from among all the nations"), which is considered the most significant of the blessings over Torah study.

They should then continue reciting Pesukei Dezimra until the conclusion of Yishtabach. Between Yishtabach and Yotzer Or, they should recite the remaining two blessings, Al Divrei Torah and Veha'arev Na.

If someone remembers only after beginning Yotzer Or, they should recite all three blessings between Yotzer Or and Ahavat Olam. However, they should not recite the verses of the Priestly Blessing at that point, out of concern that doing so would constitute an interruption. Instead, they may rely on the recitation of the Shema or on studying a little Torah after the prayers.

If someone forgets Birchot HaTorah and remembers only after reciting Ahavat Olam, they may no longer recite the blessings that day. This is because Ahavat Olam includes praise and requests relating to Torah study and therefore fulfills the obligation of Birchot HaTorah, even if the person did not explicitly intend for it to do so.

In this case, one should make sure to study a little Torah immediately after the prayers, demonstrating that the blessing was connected to Torah study.

Daily Inspiration: The Hidden Cost of Anger and Revenge

One day, a young boy named Yossi stormed into his house, visibly upset. He was shouting, stamping his feet, and trembling with anger. His father called out to him, but Yossi was too furious to respond.

Eventually, he burst out, "I'm absolutely furious! Shmulik made me so angry! He had no right to do what he did to me! I wish every terrible thing in the world would happen to him! I'm so angry I could kill him!"

Yossi's father was a simple man, but he possessed great wisdom. Rather than interrupting or reprimanding his son, he listened calmly as Yossi continued to vent his frustration.

"Shmulik humiliated me in front of all my friends, and I'm not going to accept it!" Yossi exclaimed. "I wish he would get terribly sick and never come back to school!"

His father listened patiently. Then he walked to a corner of the garden, picked up a sack filled with charcoal, and brought it over to his son.

"Do you see that white shirt hanging over there?" he asked. "I want you to imagine that it's Shmulik. Take these pieces of charcoal and throw them at the shirt until you've used every last piece. I'll come back when you're finished."

Yossi eagerly began his imaginary act of revenge. He grabbed handfuls of charcoal and hurled them toward the white shirt with all his strength. However, because the shirt was hanging some distance away, only a few pieces actually hit their target.

After a while, his father returned.

"Well, my son," he asked, "how do you feel now?"

"I'm exhausted, but I'm happy!" Yossi replied enthusiastically. "I managed to hit Shmulik with quite a few pieces!"

His father gently took his hand.

"Come with me," he said. "There's something I want to show you."

He led Yossi to a mirror.

The boy gasped in shock at his reflection. His face, hands, and clothes were covered in black charcoal dust. Almost his entire body was filthy, except for his eyes and teeth.

His father looked at him thoughtfully and said, "As you can see, the charcoal you threw did make the white shirt dirty. But look at yourself. There's simply no comparison. You became far dirtier than the shirt you were trying to stain."

The Lesson: Anger Can Hurt Us More Than the Person We're Angry With

When we wish harm upon others or allow ourselves to become consumed by anger and revenge, those negative feelings often end up hurting us as well.

The more energy we devote to wishing someone else misfortune or trying to make their life miserable, the more we risk allowing that bitterness to take root within our own hearts.

Just like the charcoal that left Yossi covered in black dust, the anger we direct toward others can leave a lasting mark on us.

Before allowing resentment or revenge to take over, remember that the harm we wish upon another person can ultimately affect us far more deeply than we realize. And that is certainly something none of us would ever want.