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Why does the Rambam (רמב"ם) present Birkat HaTorah as two separate halachot in Hilchot Tefillah? The shiur argues that one is Birkat HaMitzvah (blessing before learning) and the other is a daily Torah (תורה)-level obligation called la'avodah. This chakira explains why Ahavah Rabbah exempts from the first but not the second requirement.
This advanced shiur provides an in-depth analysis of Birkat HaTorah (blessings on Torah (תורה) study) based on the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s rulings in Hilchot Tefillah. The rav argues that the Rambam establishes two distinct halachot regarding Birkat HaTorah that are often conflated by other authorities. The first halacha (הלכה) (Yud) deals with Birkat HaMitzvah - the requirement to make a blessing before learning Torah, similar to any mitzvah (מצוה) requiring a bracha. The second halacha (Yud-Aleph) concerns the daily obligation of la'avodah - a Torah-level requirement to recite Birkat HaTorah each day as part of one's service to Hashem (ה׳). The shiur extensively examines when saying Ahavah Rabbah during Shema exempts from these obligations. According to this reading of the Rambam, Ahavah Rabbah only exempts from the Birkat HaMitzvah requirement (allowing one to learn without a separate blessing), but does not fulfill the daily la'avodah obligation. This interpretation resolves several difficulties in understanding the Rambam's position, particularly regarding the dispute about whether one must learn immediately after Ahavah Rabbah (al asar). The rav contrasts this with the position of the Kaf HaChaim (Kiveger) who requires sleeping before staying up all night on Shavuos to ensure one can recite Birkat HaTorah in the morning. According to the proposed reading, even after saying Ahavah Rabbah at Ma'ariv, one would still be obligated in the daily mitzvah of Birkat HaTorah. The shiur draws parallels to other cases in halacha where saying an incorrect formula (like 'shakul' instead of the proper bracha) removes the prohibition but doesn't fulfill the positive mitzvah. Throughout, the rav emphasizes the Rambam's precise reading of Talmudic sources and his systematic approach to halachic categorization.
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Berachos 11b
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Should one learn Torah full-time trusting in Divine providence, or combine learning with work? The shiur distinguishes between Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai's approach of complete separation from worldly concerns versus Rabbi Shmuel's view that proper work itself becomes part of Torah. The key insight: true emunah means learning without demanding sustenance from either Hashem or community, unlike having a 'contract' expecting payment for learning.
