The Secret of the Drops from the Garden of Eden and the Power of Chatzos
Lesson No. 43 | 18 Tishrei 5756, 3rd day of Chol HaMoed Succos - Yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rebbe Nachman, at the Yeshiva
The joy in performing a mitzvah elevates it from the kelipos (forces of impurity) to the upper Sefiros (Divine emanations), where a person merits to receive spiritual drops from the Garden of Eden. These drops are bestowed at four times during the day, with the fourth and most critical time being Chatzos (midnight), without which all other spiritual endeavors remain blocked.
The Joy That Elevates the Mitzvah from the Kelipos
When a person approaches the performance of a mitzvah with joy, this joy accomplishes a tremendous spiritual effect. It elevates the Shechinah (Divine Presence) to the heart, and then the mitzvah begins to ascend and emerge from the kelipos and the ten crowns of impurity. The Sefirah of Malchus (Kingship) of Asiyah (the World of Action) rises from the impurity and begins to move forward.
This is hinted at in the verse:
"With our youth and with our elders we will go."
The "youth" allude to the Sefiros of Netzach (Eternity), Hod (Splendor), and Yesod (Foundation), which begin to move and elevate the mitzvah. They clothe the Sefiros of Chesed (Loving-kindness), Gevurah (Severity), and Tiferes (Beauty), and the mitzvah ascends to the hands, in the aspect of "And the hand of Israel grew heavier and heavier."
The mitzvah continues to ascend higher and higher, until one merits to ascend to the Sefiros of Chochmah (Wisdom), Binah (Understanding), and Daas (Knowledge). There, in this lofty place, a person receives the blessing of intellect and a tremendous illumination. And this entire ascent is made possible solely through the joy of the mitzvah.
The Secret of the Drops from the Garden of Eden
The disciple of the Vilna Gaon explains that when the mitzvah ascends to the Sefiros of Chochmah, Binah, and Daas, one begins to receive the spiritual drops of the Garden of Eden. As we learned in the holy Zohar on the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, these drops descend four times a day.
The drops emerge from the four rivers of the Garden of Eden, and they become forty-eight drops. These are the drops that Adam HaRishon (the First Man) merited to receive after the sin. Every prophet among the prophets of Israel merited to receive only one drop from those drops.
As Rabbi Avahu said:
"Forty-eight prophets arose for Israel."
Each prophet received one drop from those drops of the Garden of Eden that drip deeply. In order to merit receiving these drops, a person must reach the Sefiros of Keser (Crown), Chochmah, and Binah, and then the drops drip and descend to the seven lower Sefiros (Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferes, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchus).
The Four Times of the Day and the Power of Chatzos
When do these drops descend? The disciple of the Vilna Gaon reveals a wondrous insight: the four drops, each of which is multiplied by twelve to reach the number forty-eight, are received at four different times during the twenty-four-hour cycle.
Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Nachman explains that it is a mistake to think there are only three times in the day. There are four times, and the fourth time is Chatzos. People mistakenly think that Chatzos is intended only for people who have insomnia, or for someone who woke up because their child cried, or for those who have a hard time falling asleep anyway.
Heaven forbid to think this way! All the tzaddikim established that there are four times. Moshe Rabbeinu said, "At about midnight," and King David said:
"At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You."
Chatzos is not an invention of people who cannot sleep at night, but rather an absolute obligation just like Shacharis, Minchah, and Maariv (the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers).
The Gateway to the Illumination of Gan Eden
A person thinks to himself that he is exempt from waking up for Chatzos (midnight prayer). But who exempted you? Did the holy Patriarchs, Moshe Rabbeinu, King David, or Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai exempt you? After all, they all arose at midnight!
In order to rectify the shattering of the vessels (Sheviras HaKeilim) and merit the drops of Gan Eden, a person must have deep intention (kavanah). When he stands in Shacharis, Minchah, and Maariv, he must concentrate on every word, dedicating at least a minute to each blessing, and then he merits to feel the taste of Gan Eden. But the main thing is Chatzos of the night.
The miracle of Avraham Avinu in his victory over the four kings took place at midnight, as it is written:
"And the night was divided for them"
All the great miracles are performed through Chatzos of the night. Whoever wakes up for Chatzos merits that the hour of Chatzos will bestow an abundance of blessing upon all the rest of his spiritual work throughout the day.
Without Chatzos - Everything is Blocked
Without waking up for Chatzos, the rest of one's spiritual work is not accepted in its entirety. It remains completely closed off and lacks any feeling. Tzaddikim such as the Komarno Rebbe and the 'Tzvi LaTzaddik' of Zidichov write severe things about this, explaining that without Chatzos, everything is blocked for a person and filled only with kelipos (spiritual impurities), and nothing ascends on high.
This is not merely a custom of Chassidim, but a fundamental principle brought down even in the words of the disciple of the Vilna Gaon. In order to receive the drops of Gan Eden and to elevate the mochin (spiritual consciousness) to Kesser, Chochmah, and Binah (the highest Sefiros), one must observe the four times of prayer, and especially Chatzos of the night. Through awakening at midnight, may we merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.
Part 3 of 3 — Lesson No. 43