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

Joy in performing a mitzvah elevates it from the kelipos (husks of impurity) to the supernal 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 devotions remain blocked.

The Joy That Elevates the Mitzvah from the Kelipos

When a person approaches 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, emerging from the kelipos and the ten crowns of impurity. The Sefirah of Malchus (Kingship) of the world of Asiyah (Action) rises out of 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, reflecting the concept of "and the hand of Israel grew constantly stronger."

The mitzvah continues to ascend higher and higher, until one merits to elevate it to the Sefiros of Chochmah (Wisdom), Binah (Understanding), and Daas (Knowledge). There, in this lofty place, a person receives a blessing of intellect and tremendous illumination. This entire ascent is made possible solely through the joy of performing 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 Parashas 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 merited to receive after the sin. Every prophet among the prophets of Israel merited to receive only a single drop from those drops.

As Rabbi Avahu said:

"Forty-eight prophets stood up 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 all the way to the Sefiros of Kesser (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 total of 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 (midnight). People mistakenly think that Chatzos is only meant for people who have insomnia, or for someone who woke up because their child was crying, 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 David HaMelech said:

"At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You"

Chatzos is not an invention of people who cannot sleep at night; rather, it is an absolute obligation, exactly like Shacharis, Minchah, and Maariv (the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers).

The Gateway to the Illumination of the Garden of Eden

A person might think to himself that he is exempt from rising for Chatzos. But who exempted you? Did the holy Patriarchs, Moshe Rabbeinu, David HaMelech, or Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai exempt you? After all, they all rose at Chatzos!

In order to rectify the breaking of the vessels and merit the drops of the Garden of Eden, a person must direct his intentions properly. When he stands in prayer for Shacharis, Minchah, and Maariv, he must focus on every word, dedicating at least a minute to each blessing, and then he will merit to feel the taste of the Garden of Eden. But the main thing is Chatzos.

The miracle of Avraham Avinu in his victory over the four kings took place at Chatzos, as it is written:

"And the night was divided for them"

All the great miracles are brought about through Chatzos. Whoever rises at Chatzos merits that the hour of midnight will bestow an abundance of blessing upon all his other spiritual devotions throughout the day.

Without Chatzos - Everything is Blocked

Without rising for Chatzos, one's other spiritual devotions are not accepted in their entirety. They remain completely closed off, devoid of any spiritual feeling. Tzaddikim like the Komarno Rebbe and the author of the Tzvi LaTzaddik of Zidichov write awesome and fearful things about this, explaining that without Chatzos, everything remains blocked for a person, filled only with kelipos, 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 the Garden of Eden and elevate one's consciousness to Kesser, Chochmah, and Binah, one absolutely needs the four times of the day, and especially Chatzos. Through awakening at Chatzos, may we merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.

Part 3 of 3 — Lesson No. 43

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