Behar/Bechukosai Bulletin in PDF format itled 1

When reciting birchos HaTorah, one should keep in mind the following things  (taken from M.B.):

  • to fulfill the mitzvah of saying birchos HaTorah (according to many, a chiyuv mide’oraiso
  • that one’s children stay in the path of  Torah, become Talmidei Chachomim, have middos tovos.
  • to remember mattan Torah at Har Sinai
  • To feel joy in being one of the ‘chosen people’, and for  the privilege of receiving the Torah

Mitzvah 21 in the Rambam’s count of mitzvohs assei is morah Mikdash (see Behar 26:2)– fear, awe, of the Beis HaMikdash. And, as the Gemara states in many places, it is not the building which should inspire this emotion, but rather He who “dwells” in the Mikdash, He whose “House ” it is.

That is why there are so many Rishonim who say that nowadays, the actual mitzvah is transposed to our Botei Kenesses and Botei Medrash-because the source of the kedusha and mitzvah is one and the same!