I hope everyone is having a wonderful and relaxing summer.

I came across a striking idea this week and I felt compelled to share it.  This week's Parsha, Parshat Eikev, discusses the mitzvah deorayta of Birchat HaMazon.  Birchat HaMazon and Birchat HaTorah (according to many rishonim) are the only brachot that are Biblical in origin.  All other brachot are miderabanan.   The Meshech Chochmah asks a simple question.  Given that these are the only deorayta brachot, why is birchat hamazon specifically recited after we eat, while Birchat HaTorah is recited specifically before we learn.  Why this difference?

The Meshech Chochmah develops a beautiful and profound idea.  The purpose of brachot in general, and certainly these two as Biblical paradigms, is to express hakarat hatov to Hashem for the constant chesed that He bestows upon us.  There is, however, a fundamental difference between the hakarat hatov that needs to be expressed with respect to food versus that which we need to express when it comes to Torah.  When someone is famished and has before him a lavish meal, there is a natural sense of gratitude that the person feels knowing that imminently his hunger will be sated.  Before eating, there is no real need for the Torah to mandate a bracha since the hungry individual on the verge of a feast has a natural feeling of anticipation and appreciation.  After eating, however, when his ravishing hunger has been relieved, that natural inherent sense of gratitude is gone.  A person's nature is to get up from his meal and move on to the next matter on his agenda.  Therefore, specifically, at the conclusion of the meal, when it is less natural, the Torah tells us "Stop!"  Take a moment to recognize the goodness of Hashem.

We find the exact opposite phenomena when it comes to Talmud Torah.  The beauty and profundity of Torah and the wonderful opportunity that Talmud Torah represents is often not appreciated when we are about to embark on a session of learning - it is only gleaned after a solid chevruta or limud.  To break away from the pressures of one's day to sit and learn is not an easy thing.  All too often things get in the way of learning, and the process of Talmud Torah can feel like a cumbersome burden.  Too often, as we plan our day, we do not naturally recognize Torat Hashem as an unbelievable vehicle for us to come close to Him.  In contrast, after a strong session of learning, when perhaps we have experienced the wonders of Torah and the resultant deveikut b'Hashem, there is a very natural and organic feeling of connection to the Divine.  After a great shiur or chevruta, we feel spiritually uplifted with an innate sense of appreciation "אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים".  Accordingly, when it comes to Birchat HaTorah, we are commanded to make the bracha before learning, at a time when we do not necessarily appreciate the majestic nature of the adventure we are about to embark upon. The bracha puts the day's learning within the proper context of hakarat hatov.

Just today, I personally, felt the impact of this idea of the Meshech Chochmah.  Baruch Hashem, it has been a very busy summer, which means it has been a struggle to find time to get into the Beit Midrash.  This morning, despite quite a lot going on, I pulled myself away.  It was not easy.  But after spending a few hours learning, the pleasure of being davek in Hashem's Torah enveloped me.  No need for the Torah to be mechayev a bracha.  Post learning, that sense of bracha came naturally.

Needless to say, the message of the Meshech Chochmah establishes a principle that is not limited to the formal halachic area of hilchot brachot.  There are times when we feel a natural sense of gratitude to our parents, spouses, children and friends.  However, the true test and challenge of hakarat hatov is to feel and express gratitude and appreciation even during those times when it does not necessarily come natural.

Shabbat Shalom

Rav Shimon Isaacson