Yad David: The Blessings of Shema as Birchot HaTorah

The Seventh of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Dovid Sinzheim of Strasbourg, France (1745-1812). He served as President of the “Sanhedrin” established by Napoleon, the first meeting of which occurred on February 9th, 1807. He was author of Yad David.

When the Talmud teaches that the blessing for the Shema suffices for the Blessings over Torah learning, it only means for the Shema that immediately follows the blessing and for learning Torah immediately after completing one’s prayer. It does not cover all of one’s Torah Study for the entire day, as do the Birchot HaTorah. (Yad David, Berachot 11b)