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Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of the books, Fascinating Insights and Incredible Insights. His writings inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes, and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
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Sufficient Sleep
It is related that the Chozeh of Lublin would instruct his students not to sleep too little. R' Yitzchak Isaac of Kamarna would say that it is better to add an hour of sleep and the rest of the day be a mentch than to limit your sleep by an hour and the rest of the day be a chaya ra’ah.
What would the Chofetz Chaim do to ensure that his students get an adequate amount of sleep? He himself, occasionally, would actually close all the lights in his yeshiva late at night to make certain that his students get sufficient sleep.[1]
The gemara[2] says that the one who rolls the Sefer Torah (הגולל ספר תורה) together to close it (known as gelilah) receives a reward equal to the reward of all the other participants.[3] R' Yaakov of Pshevorsk was once asked to explain this enigmatic statement. Because someone rolled the Sefer Torah he receives so much more reward? There can be a person that wants to continue learning until the wee hours. However, if he does this, how will his next day look? הגולל ספר תורה means that one is wise enough to close the sefer when it is time for sleep. This is so that the next day he will wake up with vigor, with a clear mind and serve Hashem with freshness and passion. For such a person it is fitting that he receive such reward.