Page 423 - 20780

418 | A New Light Chapter Nine: | 423 418 | A New Light

your eyelids” (Proverbs 6:4). And the midrash says: “The beginning Rabbi Yitzchak’s righteousness and simplicity, he was very anxious your eyelids” (Proverbs 6:4). And the midrash says: “The beginning
of downfall is sleep” (Bereishit Rabbah 17). But the most shocking and shaken by his every smallest thought that was not in keeping of downfall is sleep” (Bereishit Rabbah 17). But the most shocking
statement comes from Sefer Hamidot, based on a midrash: “As a with the Creator’s will, and by every instance in which his mind was statement comes from Sefer Hamidot, based on a midrash: “As a
result of much sleep and slumber, a person is pushed away from the disengaged from the Holy One, blessed be He—even by accident result of much sleep and slumber, a person is pushed away from the
holy chariot, his face is changed, and the image of God is spoiled” and even when he was overwhelmed. Then he would immediately holy chariot, his face is changed, and the image of God is spoiled”
(Sefer Hamidot: Sheinah 2). May Hashem protect us. sit down to write a letter to his father and lament: “Woe is me … (Sefer Hamidot: Sheinah 2). May Hashem protect us.
Why am I living such a life? … Where am I in this world?…”
What does all of this depend on? On the type of intent What does all of this depend on? On the type of intent
with which a person goes to sleep. To us, because of our spiritual impoverishment, making such a with which a person goes to sleep.
commotion out of such seemingly “small” things seems risible. It
Every individual can testify that when he goes to sleep with proper appears to us that “there are worse things than that,” that “what Every individual can testify that when he goes to sleep with proper
intent and wakes up properly, throughout the next day he senses happened isn’t so terrible,” and that “this happens to everyone intent and wakes up properly, throughout the next day he senses
the help of heaven and a special sweetness. On the other hand, it is 1,000 times a day”—so that we even do not aspire for such closeness the help of heaven and a special sweetness. On the other hand, it is
clear that if he goes to sleep because of the urge to sleep and with to Hashem. But Rabbi Yitzchak lived with the goal of clinging to clear that if he goes to sleep because of the urge to sleep and with
a desire for the pleasure of sleep, it will be very hard for him to Hashem at every moment, and he understood how terrible every a desire for the pleasure of sleep, it will be very hard for him to
get up—and even if he gets up on time, he will feel a mysterious, disengagement of the mind from Hashem is. The truth is that we get up—and even if he gets up on time, he will feel a mysterious,
unexplained bitterness throughout the day. must laugh not at Rabbi Yitzchak but at ourselves, at the fact that unexplained bitterness throughout the day.
we are so dulled and blocked and far from this simple truth, so far
Merited or Did Not Merit? from the goal. Therefore, we see that Rabbi Natan never told him, Merited or Did Not Merit?
“What are you yelling about? This is not so terrible … everyone

Our sages teach that if a person merits, many things will sanctify falls in this area…” but he agreed that in truth it is fitting to cry Our sages teach that if a person merits, many things will sanctify
him, bring him close to Hashem and illumine him. But if he does out. He only encouraged his son not to grow entirely discouraged, him, bring him close to Hashem and illumine him. But if he does
not merit, those same things will harm him greatly. For instance, heaven forbid, and told him that there is no despair and that he not merit, those same things will harm him greatly. For instance,
our sages say about the holy Torah: “If a person merits, it becomes should continue to strengthen himself and encourage himself, and our sages say about the holy Torah: “If a person merits, it becomes
an elixir of life. If he does not merit, it becomes a deadly drug” so forth, as is related in the introduction. an elixir of life. If he does not merit, it becomes a deadly drug”
(Yoma 72b). Regarding the covenant of marriage, our sages say: (Yoma 72b). Regarding the covenant of marriage, our sages say:
“If the couple merits, the Shechinah is with them. If they do not Always with You “If the couple merits, the Shechinah is with them. If they do not
merit, fire consumes them” (Sotah 17a). And regarding wine, they merit, fire consumes them” (Sotah 17a). And regarding wine, they
say: “If a person merits, it makes him happy. If he does not merit, All of the tzaddikim reached tremendous levels because they did say: “If a person merits, it makes him happy. If he does not merit,
it destroys him” (Yoma 76b). not remove their minds from Hashem for even a single moment. It it destroys him” (Yoma 76b).
is written that Hashem was with King David. Why was Hashem with
The same paradigm applies to sleep (as we have learned here). him? Because he was always with Hashem. As the verse states, “I The same paradigm applies to sleep (as we have learned here).
When a person merits to go to sleep for the honor of Hashem, with am always with You” (Psalms 73:23). Joseph too clung to Hashem in When a person merits to go to sleep for the honor of Hashem, with
proper intent and yearning, his sleep benefits him and renews all of the darkest circumstances, until even the wicked Potiphar, who was proper intent and yearning, his sleep benefits him and renews all of
his powers. But if he does not merit, his sleep depresses him, tires a harsh “husk,” a being entirely consisting of idolatry and pollution, his powers. But if he does not merit, his sleep depresses him, tires
him out, pollutes him, kills him, and so forth. clearly saw that Hashem was with Joseph. “His master saw that him out, pollutes him, kills him, and so forth.
Hashem was with him” (Genesis 39:3). People could see with their
As was stated earlier, whether or not a person will attain merit own eyes that David and Joseph were connected to Hashem and As was stated earlier, whether or not a person will attain merit
depends on his preparation. That is why I composed a long prayer clung to Hashem. It was not for nothing that David and Joseph depends on his preparation. That is why I composed a long prayer