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Thought for the Day: Why Hearing Divrei Torah Requires Birkas haTorah

I needed to know to whom the Shita Mekubetzis is referring when he says "rabeinu", so I asked a long time chaver from the vasikin minyan (and before).  I gave him the reference (source for my post regarding "Tzadik Gozer v'HaShem M'Kayem") and he got back to me later that day.  So far not unusual, because he is amazing about things like that.  (The Shita Mekubetzis means the Radbaz, by the way.)  He also commented that it was a fascinating p'shat, so I forwarded him what I had written.  That is unusual, because I usually consider a source and not a consumer for my thoughts.  In any case, he commented back, "I hadn't thought about it that way, so wondered both why you were seeing it that why and also why I hadn't thought about it that way."

Before discussing the "it" we were discussing, I just want to note that conversations like this are precisely why I started writing these TftD emails.  These emails are certainly not polished, publication ready articles.  Rather, I try to learn at least one new something that is interesting each day.  Actually writing out the thought helps clarify and solidify the topic for me.  Even more important, though, is that I hope it stimulates thoughts and interest for you.  In fact, the Halichos Shlomo says that one must says bikas hatorah before listening to divrei torah.  However, it is not because of "shomei'a k'ona".  Oh, no... nothing that mundane.  Listening to divrei torah requires birkas hatorah because listening to divrei torah prompts torah thoughts in the mind of the listener.  Think about that: the thoughts you have regarding torah matters are so precious to HaShem that He chose each of us from all of the nations to give us His Torah.  HaShem chose to give you His Torah ha'K'dosha so that He could enjoy your thoughts and chidushim!

Truthfully, I have no idea what to say after that.  I am kind of bowled over myself by that revelation.  (See?  Until I wrote it down, I hadn't really appreciated what that halacha meant.  You should try this yourself!)

One more thing... it seems that "tzadik gozer v'HaShem m'kayem" is not a statement from Chazal.  Where is it from?  Stay tuned....
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