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To
My Dear Students,
The
Kabbalah teaches that at night, during sleep,
our spirit, the neshamah, strips itself
of its bodily clothing and ascends. Upon
our awakening, the spirit returns and adorns its
garments. The Midrash teaches that the neshamah
fills the body, and when man sleeps it rises
and draws life for him from above.
When
we sleep, then, our souls go up to G-d for safekeeping
and rejuvenation. When we awaken we thank
G-d for returning our souls to us. Jews
are supposed to start every day with an expression
of thankfulness for life itself, the recitation
of the Modeh Ani.
If
you want to incorporat this small exercise into
your life, here is how to do it:
Upon
first waking up, say these words: Modeh
ani l'fanecha Melech chai v'kayam, shehecherazarta
bee neshmati b'chemla, rabba emunatecha."
In English: "I offer thanks to You,
living and eternal King, for You have mercifully
restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness
is great."
This
single sentence expresses thanks for the most
elemental gift of all, life itself, to the Divine
source of life. We thank G-d for protecting
us during the night and we are hopeful that His
constant presence will remain with us until we
again retire for sleep.
There
is no better way to start one's day.
Shabbat
Shalom,
Your
Rabbi
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