HALACHA OF THE WEEK: BIRKOT Ha-TORAH ON SHAVUOT MORNING & POST MISHMAR PROCEDURES
Every morning, before we begin to learn, we recite a special bracha for the mitzva of Torah study. This bracha is so natural and expected, that it has become part of the daily davening. But what happens when a person is up all night? Is this bracha necessary the next morning, or should it be skipped?
The answer is a "machloket" (a dispute). Some maintain that it's not necessary, since the bracha of the day before is still in effect. Others rule that this bracha must be said each morning regardless of whether or not one slept [Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orech Chayim 47:7; Aruch HaShulchan ibid., 23; Kaf HaChayim ibid., 26].
According to the Mishna Berura [Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chayim 47:28], this debate remains unresolved and therefore following options are recommended - either listen to the brachot from someone who did sleep, or before Shema, when reciting the paragraph of Ahavah Rabbah use that blessing to fulfill one's obligation.
Two other options are: 1) if one slept on erev Shavuot (even for just 1/2 hour) the bracha should be said [Mishna Berura ibid., quoting Rabbi Akiva Eiger]; and 2) when reciting the bracha on erev Shavuot morning, clearly stipulate that it should only be in effect until the next morning [Luach Eretz Yisrael in the name of Rabbi Yosef Teumim].
In addition, the following is a simplified guide to “post-mishmar” procedure for people who stayed awake all night:
1. At some point after “alot hashachar” (72 minutes before sunrise) a person should go to the bathroom, and then wash hands reciting the blessings of “al netilat yadaim” and “asher yatzar” [Mishna Berura 4 note 30]
2. The blessing of “elokai neshama should be heard from someone who slept during the night [Mishna Berura 46 note 24]
3. The remaining “birchot hashachar” may be recited, with the exception of the final blessing of “ha’ma’avir shaina” which again should be heard from someone who slept.
DVAR TORAH
At the beginning of this week's parasha, we read of the order that the Jews lived and travelled through the desert. Surrounding the Mishkan on four sides, each direction was the home to three tribes. The order that the Jewish people.
According to the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 2:8), this division worried Moshe - perhaps one tribe would not like their location and want to move. But G-d assured him that the people already knew where they would live and how they would travel. Because Yaakov had already divided them up, when he planned for his own funeral, and told his sons where they should stand and how they should carry him back to Israel. But what was Moshe so worried about? And why does the Midrash connect their travels in the desert to the funeral of Yaakov?
Rabbi Mordechai Rogow, z"l, a former Rosh Yeshiva at HTC explained, that Moshe was concerned about the effects that the life in the desert would have on the Jews. He was afraid that their 40 year journey and all of its extraordinary pressures would lead to confusion, turmoil, and even a loss of their own sense of humanity.
Answered G-d, "there was nothing to worry about." Once before, when their patriarch Yaakov died the people had survived a very difficult time, with severe pressures and turmoil -- and yet they survived and even maintained their own sense of dignity. They knew how to travel and they knew how to remain a united people - they had learned it from Yaakov!
