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Teaching Torah to Non-Observant Jews Who Have Not Recited Birkot Ha’Torah
Monday, 22 September, 2025
In a previous installment, we saw that just as Halacha requires reciting Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning before verbally speaking words of Torah, one is similarly required to recite Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning before listening to words of Torah. This is based on the Halachic principle of "Shome'a Ke'oneh," which equates listening with speaking. One who listens to words of Torah is considered to be speaking those words himself, and so he must recite Birkot Ha'Torah. This conclusion gives rise to the question of whether it is permissible to teach Torah to Jews who can be presumed not to have recited Birkot Ha'Torah. Many communities run Torah learning programs for non-observant Jews, who certainly do not recite the morning blessings, such as Birkot Ha'Torah. Seemingly, by teaching them Torah, one causes them to violate the prohibition of learning before reciting Birkot Ha'Torah. How, then, is this allowed, given that one is not permitted to facilitate another Jew's violation of Halacha? The Poskim offer different reasons why this should be allowed. One theory is that the mechanism of "Shome'a Ke'oneh" works through Kavana (intent) – meaning, the speaker has in mind that his words should be considered as though they were spoken also by the listeners. When teaching Torah to a non-observant audience, one does not have this intention, since the listeners have not recited Birkot Ha'Torah, and so they are not considered as though they are speaking the words. However, as we saw in a previous installment, it is uncertain whether the process of "Shome'a Ke'oneh" indeed requires Kavana in the context of Torah study. Another possibility is that non-observant Jews have the same status as people who are incapable of reciting Birkot Ha'Torah. If one is practically unable to recite Birkot Ha'Torah – such as if he does not know Hebrew, or if he does not have Siddur and does not know the text from memory – then Halacha allows him to learn Torah without reciting the Berachot. Jews who are unfamiliar with Halacha observance may likely fall under this category, and so they are allowed to learn Torah without reciting Birkot Ha'Torah. Others suggest that it is preferable for non-observant Jews to learn Torah, despite not having recited Birkot Ha'Torah, as the exposure to Torah learning could lead them to embrace observance. It is better for them to violate this transgression, of learning before Birkot Ha'Torah, than never to be taught Torah, as they will hopefully be drawn to learn more and become observant. Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein (contemporary) cites his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (Jerusalem, 1910-2012), as advancing a different rationale. He noted that non-observant Jews who attend a Torah lecture have no intention to fulfill the Misva of Torah learning, but come merely for the sake of curiosity or intellectual engagement. This kind of study, Rav Elyashiv asserted, does not qualify as a fulfillment of the Misva of Torah learning, and thus does not require Birkot Ha'Torah. Others dispute this line of reasoning, claiming that this indeed fulfills the Misva despite the absence of intent for the Misva. Summary: Although one is required to recite Birkot Ha'Torah each day before learning Torah, including silently listening to a Torah class, the Poskim generally allow teaching Torah to non-observant Jews who do not recite the required daily blessings.
