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Learning Past Alos 

Rabbi Moshe Binyamin Friedman, Rosh Yeshiva

The Yom Tov of Shavuos does not have any particular mitzvos. However, the custom is to spend the whole night studying Torah. This custom raises complications regarding Bircos HaTorah.

The Poskim disagree as to whether one who is awake the entire night is required to recite new Bircos HaTorah in the morning. Some understand that just like any other Bircas HaMitzvah, if there was no interruption, no new bracha is required. Others, based on the Magen Avraham, disagree and understand that Bircos HaTorah are similar to the other Bircos Hashachar which are recited every morning, regardless of whether or not one has slept. 

The Mishna Brurah suggests that one should avoid the issue by hearing the brachos recited by someone who slept. However, what do we do from the time of Alos Hashachar (when the day begins) until someone who has slept arrives and can recite the brachos? Must we stop our learning?

Rav Akiva Eiger offers a solution that resolves the problem for anyone who took a nap (that could be defined as שינת קבע) the previous day. Based on either logic mentioned above, someone who took a nap will require another bracha in the morning. If the bracha is similar to other bircos hamitzvos, the nap earlier in the day has caused an interruption. If the bracha depends on the new day, then at Alos Hashachar one is required to make a new bracha. Rav Akiva Eiger therefore rules that anyone who slept the previous day can make a new bracha at Alos Hashachar.

What about those who did not nap during the day? As we mentioned, according to the Magen Avraham, Bircos HaTorah are dependent on the new day, and seemingly should be recited immediately at Alos Hashachar. However, we may argue that although Bircos HaTorah are set up like Bircos Hashachar, to be said daily, they essentially remain Bircos Hamitzvah on the learning of Torah. It is therefore difficult to believe that the bracha would expire in the middle of the mitzvah on which it is recited. If so, one need not interrupt his learning in the middle to make a new bracha when Alos Hashachar arrives.

In conclusion, for someone who did not sleep at all during the day, the Poskim disagree as to whether he may continue to learn. Some Poskim say one may continue to learn until Shacharis, while others disagree and say one must stop learning at Alos Hashachar until he can find someone to recite the brachos for him. 

May we all be zoche to learn and grow this Shavuos night, reaching greater heights than ever before!

The Greatest Gift

Rabbi Yaakov Leonard, Rosh Yeshiva

On Shavuos, there is a mitzvah to rejoice. Not only do we learn Torah, we also drink wine and eat a Yom Tov seudah. In the Gemorah (:פסחים סח), Rav Yossi articulates exactly what it is that we celebrate on this day. He asks his family members to prepare the choicest calf and make him a feast [on Yom Matan Torah], because "If it were not for what that day caused, I would be like any other 'Joe' on the street". Rashi explains, "Because of the Torah that he learned, he became elevated". In a few simple words, Rav Yossi here expresses why we should feel gratitude for having been given the Torah. The Torah gives us the ability to become exalted.

This message appears in our Shabbos zmiros. R' Dunash, the author of דרור יקרא, wrote,"דעה חכמה לנפשך והיא כתר לראשך". If Torah is learned properly, i.e. if it is internalized into a person’s nefesh, it becomes a crown on a person’s head. The Torah brings out the regal qualities of those who learn it. This is what Chazal refer to as Keser Torah. A true talmid chacham exhibits qualities of מלכות.

Similarly, the Gemora (:סוטה ד) learns from the pasuk in Mishlei (טו:ג), “יקרה היא מפנינים - מהכהן גדול שנכנס לפני ולפנים.” The pasuk states that the Torah is more precious than pearls; the word for pearls, פנינים, alludes to the avodah of the Kohen Gadol in the Holy of Holies, לפני ולפנים. That is to say that when Torah is learned properly, it can be more uplifting than the experience of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur. For this reason the Gemora (.הוריות יג) writes,"ממזר ת"ח קודם לכהן גדול עם הארץ". Irrespective of his poor lineage, a talmid chacham is more elevated than a Kohen Gadol who is an ignoramus. The Torah lifts him higher.

Perhaps based on these sources, the Ramchal writes in Derech Hashem (ד:ב) that the most powerful tool that Hashem gave mankind is learning Torah. No mitzvah, not even acts of kindness or charity, can transform a person as Talmud Torah can. The Torah, the Ramchal writes, is "מעין אמיתת מעלתו יתברך". It has a unique power to enable man to connect to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, because the Torah in many ways reflects Hashem.

In His abundant love for the Jewish people, Hashem gave us the greatest gift - the ability to internalize His Will, transform ourselves and become crowned with the Keser Torah. He gave every member of Klal Yisroel the ability to achieve more than the Kohen Gadol. This is Rav Yossi’s lesson. On Shavuos we thank Hashem for the opportunity to become exalted as we celebrate the Torah.