33. More about the Blessings on Torah Study

7:7 If one did not say the blessings over Torah study before the morning prayer service (Shacharis), there is a difference of opinion as to whether or not they should then be recited. Some authorities feel that, since the blessing of Ahava Rabbah (or Ahavas Olam) recited before Shema includes the theme of Torah study, it exempts one from the blessings normally recited over Torah study. Others maintain that Ahava Rabbah would only take the place of the normal Torah-study blessings if one learned Torah immediately after Shacharis. Because of this doubt, we must be careful to recite the normal Torah-study blessings as prescribed and, if we err, to study some Torah immediately after prayer. In this manner, we best mitigate the doubtful situation. (The Mishnah Brurah says the reason that Shema doesn’t work as Torah study is because he’s saying it as prayer but if he says it after the time for reciting Shema, it would then count as Torah study. See MB 47:17.)

7:8 If a person who did not say the blessings over Torah study is called for an aliyah to the Torah, he should first try to recite the Torah-study blessings and at least one verse of Torah. If there is not time for him to do this, he should just take the aliyah as per usual and when he later recites the blessings over Torah study, he should omit the blessing “Asher bachar banu,” which he recited as part of his aliyah.