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I was up all night. Do I recite birchas ha’Torah in the morning?

This is a common question on Shavuos. The Mishnah Berurah (47:28) writes that there is a difference of opinion among poskim as to whether one who was awake all night recites birchas ha’Torah in the morning. The Beiur Ha’Gra (47:12) and Pri Chadash (47:12) write that one does not recite a bracha; however, the Magen Avrohom (47:12) and Elya Rabba (47:9) write that a bracha is recited every day even if one did not sleep. To avoid this uncertainty, one should listen to the bracha of one who slept and answer Amen. If this is not possible, he should have in mind to fulfill the mitzvah of birchas ha’Torah when reciting the bracha of ‘Ahavah Rabba’, and study Torah immediately after Shmoneh Esrei. If one had taken a nap during the previous day, Rebbi Akiva Eieger (OC 47:12) writes that one may recite birchas ha'Torah in the morning even though they were up all night. But what if one had not napped the previous day and will not be davening now, but wants to continue studying Torah? The Aruch Hashulchan (47:23) as well as other poskim write that the common custom is like the Magen Avrohom, that a bracha should be recited, though the Mishnah Berurah maintains that a bracha should not be recited because of the conflicting opinions.





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