Praying With Passion

Birchot HaTorah - continued

Meaning within the meaning:

We conclude Birkat HaTorah in the present tense with the words NOTEIN HaTORAH - the Giver of the Torah. The Sefer Chassidim explains that the present tense is used because Hashem provides us with new opportunities, new topics, new understandings and new insights, on a daily basis. The Torah was not only given at Har Sinai more than 3300 years ago - instead, we re-experience a new “giving of the Torah” every day as we learn, delve into, and expound upon something new. It is said that Rabbi Moshe Sherer, would urge people to take a D’var Torah that they had heard, think about it, add a thought of their own to it, and share it with someone else. In this way, they could experience a constant “giving” of the Torah - their own “Matan Torah” all the time.
Take it with you: Your personal connection to the prayer

Many great philosophers and historians have written about the impact of the Torah upon the entire world. The ideals the Western civilization holds dear - the rule of law, the dignity of human life, the value of education, charity, morality, family and communal service, all have their roots in our Torah. No matter what political or social trends come into vogue, the Torah stands firm, providing a guidepost that cannot be swayed.

We, the Jewish people, were chosen by G-d to carry this banner through the centuries. By learning Torah, we attach ourselves to G-d, and fulfill our role of maintaining G-d’s presence in the world.

Kavana-helper: What does it mean to you to have been chosen for a life of Torah? Think of one of your favorite aspects of Jewish life - something that warms and inspires you (attaining clarity in a complex Torah concept, hearing the final shofar blast on Yom Kippur, sitting in the Sukkah, singing zemirot on Shabbat, etc.). Next time you say Birchot HaTorah (and the time after, and the time after that…), connect to that image when you say “ASHER BOCHAR BONU M’KOL HA’AMIM - Who selected us from among all the nations.”

Halacha: The Shuchan Aruch states that a person’s recitation of the blessings on Torah learning should express the great joy and gratitude a Jew should have for the opportunity to study G-d’s words (Mishneh B’rura 47:2).

Editor’s 2 Some write about this second b’racha - ASHER BOCHAR BANU - that it is the equivalent of the SHEHECHEYANU we say, expressing our joy of living to celebrate this or that holiday, perform this or that “occasional” mitzva, enjoy a new season’s tasty fruit, etc. In the case of Torah, this joyful acknowledgement is - can be - should be - daily.

The first bracha combines a bracha for a mitzva (of which we have many) with a prayer for Divine help in not just being engrossed in Torah, but in finding the experience pleasant. The second bracha is our expression of sheer joy in being part of the nation that was given the Torah and that lives by (should live by) the Torah.

Towards proper accenting: - From the TBDATR column:

Focus on two words that occur in this second of the Birchot HaTorah: BACHAR and NATAN - chose (us) and gave (us). Each word on its own is accented on its second syllable. ba-CHAR and na-TAN. However, neither word is alone in this bracha. each is in a close phrase with a word meaning “us”. BACHAR BANU and NATAN LANU. BANU and LANU are each pronounced on their first (actually, their next to the last) syllables. BA-nu and LA-nu. Two syllable words that are followed in the same phrase by either one syllable words or MIL’EIL accented words, undergo a change called NASOG ACHOR. Their accents shift back to the penultimate (next to last) syllable. ba-CHAR becomes BA-char BA-nu and na-TAN becomes NA-tan LA-nu.

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