What is torah blessings in hebrew?

The blessings over the Torah (Birkhot HaTorah) are a set of Hebrew blessings recited each morning before engaging in Torah study. They are among the most fundamental daily blessings in Jewish practice, expressing gratitude to God for giving the Torah to the Jewish people.

Key Takeaways

There are three Birkhot HaTorah recited each morning: "Al Divrei Torah," "Veha'arev Na," and "Asher Bachar Banu."
Once recited in the morning, these blessings cover all Torah study throughout the entire day.
The blessings are so important that sleep does not interrupt them according to most opinions, but a new day does require recitation.
The Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 47:5) codifies these three blessings as obligatory.
A short formula, "Barukh she'natan Torah le'amo Yisrael bikdushato" ("Blessed is the One who gave the Torah to His people Israel in His holiness"), also appears in the synagogue liturgy when the Torah is taken from the Ark.

The Three Torah Blessings

1. עַל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה — Al Divrei Torah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה.

Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al divrei Torah.

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning words of Torah."

This blessing frames Torah study as a mitzvah (commandment), not merely an intellectual pursuit. [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47:5]

2. וְהַעֲרֵב נָא — Veha'arev Na

וְהַעֲרֵב נָא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּפִינוּ וּבְפִיּוֹת כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִהְיֶה אֲנַחְנוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵינוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי כָל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, כֻּלָּנוּ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶךָ וְלוֹמְדֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ לִשְׁמָהּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, הַמְלַמֵּד תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Veha'arev na Adonai Eloheinu et divrei Toratekha b'finu uv'fiyot kol amkha beit Yisrael, v'nihyeh anachnu v'tzet'za'einu v'tzet'za'ei kol amkha beit Yisrael, kullanu yod'ei sh'mekha v'lomdei Toratekha lishmah. Barukh Atah Adonai, ham'lamed Torah l'amo Yisrael.

"Please make the words of Your Torah sweet in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel, and may we — and our children and the children of all Your people Israel — all know Your Name and study Your Torah for its own sake. Blessed are You, Lord, who teaches Torah to His people Israel."

This blessing is a tefillah (prayer) woven into a blessing — asking that Torah study be not only obligatory but beloved and sweet. [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47:5]

3. אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ — Asher Bachar Banu

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה.

Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha'olam, asher bachar banu mikol ha'amim v'natan lanu et Torato. Barukh Atah Adonai, notein haTorah.

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has chosen us from all the nations and given us His Torah. Blessed are You, Lord, who gives the Torah."

This blessing expresses the concept of Am Segulah — Israel as a treasured, chosen nation — and is closely related to the aliyah blessing recited before a Torah reading. [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47:5]

The Short Liturgical Formula

A shorter formula also appears throughout the liturgy when the Torah is removed from the Ark:

בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ

Barukh she'natan Torah l'amo Yisrael bikdushato.

"Blessed is the One who gave the Torah to His people Israel in His holiness."

This phrase appears in the Siddur when the Torah is taken from the Ark on both weekdays and Shabbat [Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday Shacharit, Torah Reading], and echoes the language of the Passover Haggadah: "Barukh she'natan Torah l'amo Yisrael, Barukh Hu" — "Blessed is He who gave the Torah to His people Israel, Blessed is He" [Pesach Haggadah, Magid, The Four Sons].

Key Halachic Points

Who must recite them? Every Jewish adult, male and female, is obligated to recite these blessings each morning [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47].
When? They are recited as part of Shacharit (morning prayers), before any Torah study that day.
Does sleep require a new recitation? Yes — according to most poskim (halachic decisors), sleeping at night constitutes an interruption requiring new blessings the next morning.
What about Ahavah Rabbah? The blessing Ahavah Rabbah (rec