- Halacha
- General Questions
1174
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]

companies with names of ancient idols & boycott of homo
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 23, 5777

Halachic Positions in Other Political Campls
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Elul 14, 5768

Reading secular books, like mistery, and romantic novels
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar I 19, 5776

Free will of angels
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 22, 5779

Not keeping, but still respecting shabbat as a Noahide
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Adar II 17, 5784

Can Ashkenazim eat kitniyot (legumes) on erev Pesach?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Nisan 6, 5781

Second Day Yom Tov Israeli Minyan
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 3, 5775

No-wedding days
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 20, 5772

Is the Shulchan Hatahor (Komarno) acceptable for halacha?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 25, 5785

Re how does God do terrible things to people
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 26, 5785

coffee creamer
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 25, 5785
