Ask the Rabbi
- Halacha
- Torah and Daily Life
- General Questions
Question
King David did not sleep at night because he did not want to taste death, so he developed a system, proper calculations on how to accomplish this. From what it looks like Vilna Gaon developed a similar method. Do they write anywere in detail on how to do this?
Answer
The Talmud [Sukka 26b] states that King David would not sleep more than 60 breaths.
Even though it is meantiond in Shulchan Aruch [OC 4; 16] the commentators [see Mishna Brurah] explain it is only "at a time" but he slept several units of sixty breaths.
The Biur Halach [ibid] discusses the time in minutes these sixty breaths took, the opinions diverse form 3 minutes up to 3 hours.
In any event it is not a recommended practice for the lay person and does not apply on Shabbat
As for the Vilna Gaon, there is a story he slept 4 hours a day and he related it to a Pasuk [see Responsa Yabia Omer 4 OC 2]

Nail Filing
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 19, 5771

Mezuzah scroll
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 5, 5781

Chumash fell on the floor at home
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 22, 5780





