Question:
We are told the Shechinah is present when we study Torah-but does this apply to any Torah or just divine works. Is the Shechinah present if I pick up a book written by a Rabbi or only on Talmud and Pentatuch.And is the degree of Shechinah the same.
Answer:
Hello,
The Talmud (Brachos 6a) says that when a person studies Torah the shechina is opposite him. This applies to anything that is considered Torah, whether it is the written law, the oral law, or the book written by a Rabbi, who is writing it with the intention that it should be authentic Torah. If it is written by a “Rabbi” that is not interested in knowing what G-d wants from us, but only to twist the word of G-d to his desires, such as Reform or conservative Rabbi, then it is not considered Torah, as he isn’t interesting in the word of G-d, rather, his own values.
All Torah has this aspect that the shechina is with the person, when he learns, as it is all part of the Torah given to Moshe at Sinai. There is a different halacha that when books are in a pile etc., that the five books of Moses, the Pentateuch, is placed on top of books from the Prophets, and those books go on top of books that contain the oral law.
Best wishes
Sources:
ברכות ו ע”א “ומנין שאפילו אחד שיושב ועוסק בתורה ששכינה עמו שנאמר {שמות כ-כד} בכל המקום אשר אזכיר את שמי אבוא אליך וברכתיך”
