והיו נכנים ליום השלישי ... ירד ה' לעיני כל העם על הר סיני (יט-יא)
MASHAL: The shiurim given by the legendary Gaon, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l were renowned. Many Talmidim actively participated, entranced by his breathtaking knowledge and penetrating comprehension of all areas of Torah.
But being the Gadol Hador didn’t always allow R’ Shlomo Zalman the luxury of adequately preparing for his classes. Many times, he had to rely on his vast encyclopedic knowledge to deliver a shiur. On one particular occasion, he told his wife to tell anyone who called that he could not be disturbed since he was preparing for a shiur. When his wife entered the room, she noticed that he was lying on his bed.
“I thought you were preparing for a class?” she asked in surprise. “Why are you resting? And where are the seforim?”
R’ Shlomo Zalman replied: “Resting before giving a shiur is also preparation for the class. If the teacher does not have strength, the class will not go well. Resting, too, can truly be a great mitzvah. This is my preparation for the shiur.”
NIMSHAL: Being prepared has many connotations and it is sometimes the surest and most accurate way of accomplishing the task at hand. Indeed, each and every day we recite the following words in Birchas HaTorah: "אלו דברים שאדם אוכל פירותיהם בעוה"ז והקרן קיימת לעולם הבא ... השכמת בית המדרש שחרית וערבית". The question is, how can a person “rise early” in the morning and the evening? Do we “rise” in the evening? The Imrei Emes, R’ Avraham Mordechai Alter zt”l, explains, that by going to bed early at night a person “prepares” himself to rise on time and rejuvenate for the following morning. The reward for such “preparation” has no cap, as it is the formula for success. Going to sleep is thus considered avodas Hashem in its highest form.