Q:
In light of the fact that we say Modeh Ani in the morning and we thank Hashem for giving us another day of life and we also say Elokai Neshama, which is also a blessing that he restores life to dead bodies, so what’s the reason for the bracha, המעביר שינה מעיני – a bracha that he removes sleeps from my eyes?
A:
Now, pay attention to the following: A man can be awake and nevertheless, he is drowsy. A drowsy person who goes about his chores in the morning, in the house or in his place of work, sometimes can do great harm to himself. He sits at the wheel of his car, he’s awake but he’s drowsy. And therefore, we have to ask Hakadosh Baruch Hu or thank him for making us wide awake. המעביר שינה מעיני – He removes sleep from the eyes entirely. It’s an important thing. There are some people that have sleeping sickness. Some people are in a coma. Now these people are not actually sleeping. And therefore, we’re asking Hashem or we’re thanking Hashem to be wide awake.
By the way, however, in that bracha, we’re not only thanking Him for making us wide awake, but it’s a prayer that now that we’re awake, He should help us utilize the day for the maximum benefit, יהי רצון מלפניך שתרגילנו בתורתך ודבקנו במצותיך. We’re saying a lot of things there. We’re asking Hashem, “Now that we’re awake and you’re giving us a day of activity, please see to it, Hashem, that this day is utilized for the maximum.” So that’s one answer, that in spite of the fact that we thank Hashem for giving us another day of life, nevertheless, we want to have the ability of being wide awake and having alacrity to function at maximum efficiency and at the same time we ask Hashem it should be successful in doing all his will and also gaining the good will of men that will be caused by Hashem’s good will towards us. That’s one answer.
(October 1987)
