[Avodah] Shofar and guf naki

[Dov Kay]

<<I'm not 100% sure but I would suspect that the GRA would say to say Birkas
Hatorah ASAP in the morning after Netillas Yadayim etc.  A lot of siddurim
these days have
Yadayim
Asher Yatzar
E.lopkai Hnesham
& Birkkas  Hatorah
as the first thing in the morning. I figure it is al pi the GRA>>

I don't think so, because the Siddur HaGra and the Siddur Ezor Eliyahu, 
which is fairly authoritative as far as the minhagei GRA are concerned, put 
birchos haTorah after birchos hashachar and immediately before korbonos, 
which makes the most sense, because it puts mikra, mishna and gemara (ie 
parshas Tamid, Eizehu mekoman and Rabbi Yishmael) straight after the birchos 
haTorah.  I believe that this is also old minhag Ashkenaz.  I think the 
Chabad Tehilllas HaShem also follows this order, but could be wrong there.

You may be correct, however, that the rationale for the common custom 
nowadays is the concern any p'sukim or asiyas mitzvos prior to birchos 
haTorah is inappropriate.

G'mar tov
Dov Kay

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