Time and Duration of Sleep
From Halachipedia
Time to go to sleep
- According to the Zohar, for spiritual and health reasons, it's proper to sleep in the beginning of the night and in the second half of the night to learn torah . However the Talmud Bavli and Rambam hold that it's healthy to sleep in the end of the night until Amud HaShachar. [1]
- If one will fall asleep in prayer if he wakes up too early one can sleep later but should be careful not to miss prayer with a minyan. [2]
Duration of sleep
- One shouldn't sleep more than 8 hours of sleep because it's harmful to one's health nor should one sleep less than 6 hours. [3]
Time to wake up
- One should wake up to pray to Hashem specifically at the end of the first third, the second third, or at the end of the night because prayer is especially accepted at those times. [4]
- Preferably one should wake up before Olot HaShachar so that your are able to "awaken the dawn". [5]
- Many Achronim hold that one should "connect" the night and day with Torah by learning at end of the night (which is the beginning of the day) and end of the day (which is beginning of night). [6] However, those who don't do this have what to rely on. [7]
references
- ↑ Brachot 3b relates the story of King David who slept in the first half of the night to wake up and learning after Chatzot. This practice of sleep in the beginning of the night is praised in a few places in the Zohar (Noach 72a, Toldot 136c, Beshalach 46a, Vayahakel 185b, Vayikra 13a). So writes the Sh"t Arugot Bosem O"C 1 that the learning at night should be done primarily after Chatzot. However, Sh"T Chatom Sofer 31 (Jerusalem 5733 edition) writes that the majority practice is to learning in the first half of the night and sleep after Chatzot. Rav Ovadyah in Sh"t Yabea Omer Y"D 7:20(2) supports this from the the gemara Yoma 22a (and others) that it's preferable to stay up late learning than go to sleep early to wake up early. This is codified in Yalkut Yosef (edition 5764, vol 1 pg 75). [Halacha Brurah (Birur Halacha 1:1) writes that Rav Ovadyah's practice was to learn until after Chatzot and then sleep until morning.] Halacha Brurah (Birur Halacha 1:1) quoting the Zohar (Vayakel 195b) and Rambam (Deot 4:4) writes that either method one takes, it's proper to be awake at Chatzot to learn Torah.
- ↑ Eliyah Rabba 1:2, Pri Megadim, (quoted by Pitchei Teshuva 1:1), Halacha Brurah 1:1
- ↑ Yalkut Yosef (edition 5764, vol 1 pg 64)
- ↑ S"A 1:2
- ↑ S"A 1:1 writes that one should awaken the dawn. Halacha Brurah 1:1 explains that dawn here means Olot HaShachar.
- ↑ Shlah HaKadosh (Chulin, Derech Chaim D"H VeZeh Lashon Tolat Yacov) writes that one should connect the night and day with learning Torah. Many Achronim quote this as halacha including the Magan Avraham 1:1, Bear Hetiev 1:2, Mishna Brurah 1:2, Ben Ish Chai (Vayishlach 2), and Halacha Brurah 1:1.
- ↑ Netziv in Emek She'elah (Vetchanan 143:3) writes that the source of the Shelah is the Yerushalmi (first perek of Yoma) that one should learn two chapters during the morning and night to fulfill "VeHegita Bo Yomam VeLaylah". However, the Bavli in Menachot 99b says one should learn one chapter at day and night implies that one doesn't need to connect the night and day. Rav Ovadyah in Halichot Olam (Vayishlach 1:1) writes that those who don't follow the Shelah can rely on the Bavli.
