Failure to Bless the Torah and Loss of the Land

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָכָם וְיָבֵן אֶת זֹאת וַאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר פִּי ה׳ אֵלָיו וְיַגִּדָהּ עַל מָה אָבְדָה הָאָרֶץ״, דָּבָר זֶה

§ The Gemara discusses the topic of the acquisition of Torah knowledge. Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Who is the wise man, that he may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it? Why has the land been lost and laid waste like a wilderness, so that none passes through?” (Jeremiah 9:11). This matter, i.e., the question: Why has the land been lost,

רָבִינָא אוֹמֵר: שֶׁאֵין מְבָרְכִין בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָכָם וְיָבֵן אֶת זֹאת״ — דָּבָר זֶה נִשְׁאַל לַחֲכָמִים וְלַנְּבִיאִים וְלֹא פֵּירְשׁוּהוּ, עַד שֶׁפֵּירְשׁוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ עַל עׇזְבָם אֶת תּוֹרָתִי וְגוֹ׳״. הַיְינוּ ״לֹא שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹלִי״, הַיְינוּ ״לֹא הָלְכוּ בָּהּ״! אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: שֶׁאֵין מְבָרְכִין בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה.

Ravina says: They are punished because they do not first recite a blessing over the Torah before commencing their studies. As Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Who is the wise man that may understand this, and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land is perished and laid waste like a wilderness, so that none passes through” (Jeremiah 9:11)? This matter, the question as to why Eretz Yisrael was destroyed, was asked of the Sages, i.e., “the wise man,” and of the prophets, “he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken,” but they could not explain it. The matter remained a mystery until the Holy One, Blessed be He, Himself explained why Eretz Yisrael was laid waste, as it is written in the next verse: “And the Lord said: Because they have forsaken My Torah which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked therein” (Jeremiah 9:12). It would appear that “have not obeyed My voice” is the same as “nor walked therein.” Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: The expression “nor walked therein” means that they do not first recite a blessing over the Torah, and they are therefore liable to receive the severe punishments listed in the verse.

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אִלְמָלֵי שָׁמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שַׁבָּת רִאשׁוֹנָה לֹא שָׁלְטָה בָּהֶן אוּמָּה וְלָשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יָצְאוּ מִן הָעָם לִלְקוֹט״, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ: ״וַיָּבֹא עֲמָלֵק״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי: אִלְמָלֵי מְשַׁמְּרִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת כְּהִלְכָתָן — מִיָּד נִגְאָלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹה אָמַר ה׳ לַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי״, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ: ״וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל הַר קׇדְשִׁי וְגוֹ׳״.

Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Had the Jewish people properly observed the first Shabbat that was commanded them, no nation or tongue would have ever ruled them, as it is stated: “And it happened on the seventh day, some people went out from the nation to collect and they did not find” (Exodus 16:27). And it is written after they went out to collect manna: “And Amalek came and fought with Israel in Refidim” (Exodus 17:8). Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: If only the Jewish people would keep two Shabbatot in accordance with their halakhot, they would be immediately redeemed, as it is stated: “So said God to the eunuchs who will keep My Shabbatot” (Isaiah 56:4), and it is written after that: “And I will bring them to My holy mountain and will let them rejoice in My house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:7).

אמר רב יהודא, שלא ברכו בתורה תחלה. אבל מפני שלא ברכו בתורה תחלה, שלא היו דבקים בו יתברך באהבה במה שנתן תורה לישראל, לא היה כאן סבה מקיימת את התורה בישראל, ובאו לידי זה שעברו על התורה, ודבר זה גורם שאבדה הארץ.