English Translation
He Was Precise But Did Not Read
A learned person asked the holy Gaon Malbim [of blessed and righteous memory] why grammar isn’t taught in the religious schools [cheders], given that there is an explicit Mishna stating “If one read but was not precise with its letters, Rabbi Yosi says he has fulfilled his obligation” (Berachot 14b) – and this is only acceptable after the fact. He replied: “You are correct, but at least you agree that after the fact one fulfills their obligation. However, if one was precise with grammar but did not read at all, they have not fulfilled their obligation whatsoever.”
“Amira Yafa” (Jerusalem 5764 [2004]) p. 109
Original Hebrew Version
דִּקְדֵּק וְלֹא קָרָא
מַשְׂכִּיל א’ שָׁאַל אֶת הַגָּה”ק הַמַּלְבִּי”ם זַצַ”ל לָמָּה אֵין לוֹמְדִים בַּחֲדָרִים דִּקְדּוּק הֲרֵי מִשְׁנָה מְפֹרֶשֶׁת קָרָא וְלֹא דִקְדֵּק בְּאוֹתִיּוֹתֶיהָ ר’ יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר יָצָא (בְּרָכוֹת י”ד ע”ב) וְזֶה רַק בְּדִיעֲבַד. הֵשִׁיבוֹ צָדַקְתָּ אֲבָל עַכְּ”פ בְּדִיעֲבַד אַתָּה מוֹדֶה שֶׁיּוֹצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ, אֲבָל דִּיקְדֵּק וְלֹא קָרָא אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא כְּלָל
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“אֲמִירָה יָפָה” (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם תשס”ד) ע’ ק”ט
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