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When someone realizes mid-bracha they intended the wrong blessing, can they salvage it? Rashi (רש"י) holds that proper kavana during 'Baruch Ata Hashem (ה׳)' requires mental designation of which specific bracha this opening represents, while Tosafos (תוספות) sees the opening as truly generic with no kavana requirement. The shiur resolves difficulties with Rashi's approach by showing that both 'beginning' and 'completing' a bracha involve mental designation, not just speech.
This shiur presents a detailed analysis of Masechta Brachos 12a, focusing on the fundamental dispute between Rashi (רש"י) and Tosafos (תוספות) regarding the role of kavana (intent) in brachos. The Gemara (גמרא) discusses cases where someone begins a bracha with one intent but realizes mid-bracha that a different bracha is needed, such as thinking wine is beer or intending one bracha but saying another. Rashi maintains that proper kavana is essential during the bracha's opening formula 'Baruch Ata Hashem (ה׳) Elokeinu Melech HaOlam.' According to Rashi, this opening isn't merely generic - it must be mentally designated for the specific bracha being recited. When someone realizes their mistake 'ki shehigi al Melech HaOlam' (while saying Melech HaOlam), they can still salvage the bracha because they haven't yet completed the critical portion. This requires active mental designation (kvi'as shem) of what type of bracha the opening formula represents.
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Brachos 12a
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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.
