A Learning Gap At Night

A senior officer serving in Gaza wrote to Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein that more soldiers lose their lives at night than during the day.

Rav Zilberstein realized there is a gap in Torah study and tefillah between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. when soldiers and yeshiva students engage less in these activities.

He appealed to the tzibbur to pray and study during these nighttime hours. He even suggested organizing groups for this purpose, comparing the people participating in the project with the maamados, people present when the daily sacrifices (temidim) were offered in the Bais Hamikdosh to represent the entire Jewish people.

For people unable to study late at night, he suggested that before going to sleep, they recite Krias Shema with great intention and resolve that their rest is devoted to having the strength to study Torah the next day. Such sleep is considered a zechus for the Jewish people, similar to that of study and prayer, and it significantly contributes to success in the war effort, Rav Zilberstein wrote.

{Matzav.com Israel}