On the night of a boy's 13 th birthday, when he becomes a Bar-Misva, he must – in principle – recite Birkot Ha'Torah before learning Torah. Generally, of course, a person's recitation of Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning covers all his Torah learning throughout the day and the following night. In the case of a Bar Misva boy, however, he recited Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning as a minor, who is not obligated in Misvot (except by virtue of his parents' obligation to train him in Misva observance). Therefore, his recitation that morning does not fulfill his obligation once he becomes a Halachic adult who now bears an obligation to recite Birkot Ha'Torah. Therefore, before the boy learns and speaks words of Torah on the night of his 13 th birthday, he is required to recite Birkot Ha'Torah. However, as there is some uncertainty as to whether this is necessary, Hacham Ovadia Yosef suggested two ways to avoid this question. One possibility is to recite Arbit before learning Torah, having in mind that the recitation of Ahabat Olam – the blessing immediately preceding Shema – will satisfy the obligation of Birkot Ha'Torah. As we have seen, this blessing discusses similar themes as those of Birkot Ha'Torah, and thus a person can fulfill his requirement of Birkot Ha'Torah by reciting this blessing. Hacham Ovadia adds, however, that if the boy chooses this option, he must ensure to recite Arbit after sundown, when he has already turned 13. The other option is for the boy to have in mind when he recites Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning that his recitation should remain in effect only until sundown. He can then recite Birkot Ha'Torah after sundown according to all opinions, without any concern. Incidentally, a similar Halacha applies to a convert. After undergoing conversion, a convert must recite Birkot Ha'Torah before he learns Torah, even if he had recited Birkot Ha'Torah that morning. His recitation of Birkot Ha'Torah as a gentile does not fulfill his obligation as a Jew, and so he must repeat Birkot Ha'Torah immediately after completing his conversion and assuming the formal status of a Jew. Summary: In principle, a boy must recite Birkot Ha'Torah before he learns Torah on the night he turns 13, even though he had recited Birkot Ha'Torah that morning. Preferably, he should have in mind when he recites Birkot Ha'Torah in the morning that his recitation should remain in effect only until sundown, so he can then repeat Birkot Ha'Torah after sundown according to all opinions. Alternatively, he can recite Arbit right after sundown and have in mind to fulfill his Birkot Ha'Torah obligation through the recitation of Ahabat Olam (the blessing preceding Shema), thus obviating the need to repeat Birkot Ha'Torah after sundown.