Fleeing from his angry brother, Jacob spent the night in Bethel. There he prayed, before lying down to sleep.

"He entreated at the place and stayed overnight, for it suddenly became night." (Gen. 28:11)

The Sages taught that Jacob established the third prayer of the day — Ma'ariv, the evening service. While less obligatory than the morning and afternoon services, Ma'ariv has its own unique importance. The Talmudic sage Abba Benjamin testified that every day of his life he took great pains to recite this prayer before going to sleep (Berachot 5b). What is so special about this prayer?

Refining the Desires and Imagination

When we sleep, our cognitive and rational functions cease, and our physical nature takes over. Only our imaginative powers remain active, guiding our dreams as we sleep. Without the control and regulation of our intellectual faculties, a degree of impurity descends on the body in the night. We remove this impurity by washing our hands when we wake up in the morning.

Very holy individuals may experience sublime visions in their sleep, like Jacob who dreamt of angels and Divine promises in Bethel. However, this elevation is only for the soul. Since the body is detached from the soul during sleep, it is not influenced by the soul's uplifting experiences.

We have two tools for spiritual growth: Torah study and prayer. Abba Benjamin's testimony helps clarify how each one elevates different aspects of the human soul.

Torah study comes to refine and elevate the intellect. The goal of prayer, on the other hand, is to uplift our faculty of ratzon (will) and refine our powers of imagination. Through prayer we raise our wants and desires to holier, more spiritual goals.

The imaginative faculties are closer to our physical nature than the intellect. Thus they function even as we sleep, in our dreams. Since it is through prayer that we can most effectively direct those faculties still active during sleep, it is logical that prayer before sleep will have the strongest impact on this aspect of life. For this reason, Abba Benjamin stressed the importance of his nighttime prayer.

(adapted from Ein Eyah vol. I, p. 19)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison