Some references to Sleep in Talmud/Torah/Judaism

G-d caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and He separated the first human creature called Adam into two equal components of male and female. The male component remained with the name Adam and the female component was named Chava.

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Chapter 135:8 According to halacha (“Mi’dinah”), one must sleep in a sukkah, even if one is taking a short nap. This is the practice of those who are “precise in the observance of the mitzvos” (“me’dakdekin be’mitzvos”), [that is], they do not even nap outside a sukkah. At present, many are accustomed to being lenient regarding [sleeping in the sukkah] (1), and the later Rabbinic authorities (“Acharonim”) have offered several rationales to explain their conduct (2). However, it is proper for every G-d-fearing person to construct a sukkah in which he can dwell together with his wife in the manner that he dwells throughout the entire year [in his house], if possible. At the very least, it should be fit for him to sleep in there alone. If it is not fit for this, it is unacceptable (“pesulah”) even after the fact (“bedi’avad”) (3).

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“And Yaakov awoke from his sleep, and he said, ‘Indeed, Hashem is present in this place, and I did not know!’” (28:17)

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Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) says (Koheles/Ecclesiastes 5:11):

The sleep of the simple labourer is sleep, whether he has eaten much or little. But the fullness of the rich man doesn’t let him sleep.

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Our Sages tell us that the experience of sleep is one-sixtieth of death (Berachos). For this reason, King David was careful to minimize his sleep, so he should not “taste the flavor of death” (Shulchan Aruch 4,16 citing Zohar Vayigash 207a). At the end of his life, the Vilna Gaon acted in a similar fashion, never sleeping for the amount of time that is considered one sixteeth of dath (more than half an hour at a time).

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“And it was miketz {at the end of} two years and Paroah dreamt.[41:1]” The Medrash asks: Don’t other people also dream? (Meaning, what is the special significance of Paroah dreaming?) The Medrash answers that a dream of the king is a dream that affects the entire world.

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And he dreamed, and behold—a ladder stood on the earth, its head reaching to the heaven, and angels of Hashem were ascending and descending on it. And behold—Hashem was standing over him. And He said, “I am Hashem, G-d of your father Avraham and G-d of Yitzchok; the Land upon which you sleep—I will give it to you and your children…” And Yaakov awoke from his sleep, and he said, “Indeed, Hashem is in this place, and I didn’t know.” (28:12- 16)

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In the aftermath of the Mabul, Noach planted a vineyard. The vineyard produced grapes and Noach made wine. Noach drank the wine and became “intoxicated”. Alone in his tent, Noach disrobed and fell into a deep sleep. While asleep and uncovered, Canaan the son of Cham, Noach’s grandson, entered his grandfather’s private residence, saw his grandfather’s less than dignified condition and informed his father. Cham entered his father’s tent, degraded and assaulted his father’s person and dignity and then told his two brothers. Shem and Yefes undertook to care for their father without further compromising his dignity.

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Talmud Torah 4:9.We do not sleep in the *Beit Midrash* (Hall of Study) and anyone who sleeps in the Beit Midrash, his Torah will become torn up into shreds. This is akin to what Solomon said in his wisdom: “Drowsiness will clothe them in rags.” [Mishlei (Proverbs) 23:21]. Conversation in the Beit Midrash should only consist of words of Torah. Even if someone sneezes, we do not say *Refuah* (health!) in the Beit Midrash – and certainly other matters [are prohibited]. The holiness of the Beit Midrash is greater than that of a *Beit K’nesset* (synagogue).

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Behold, He does not slumber nor sleep, the Guardian of Israel.” (Tehillim 121:4)

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This is the way of the Torah: Bread and salt will you eat, measured water will you drink, on the ground will you sleep, a life of suffering will you live, and in the Torah will you labor. If you do this, ‘You are fortunate and it is good for you’ (Psalms 128:2). ‘You are fortunate’ — in this world; ‘and it is good for you’ — in the World to Come.”

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(2,8)
“And the spies had not yet laid down to sleep and she went up to them on the roof.”

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Chapter 4 Verse 13. “In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls,“

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Yonah 1:5″…and Yonah descended to the depths of the vessel and he went to sleep (1:5).”

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The prophet Daniel who said, “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2– 3).

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“Eat bread with salt, drink water in small measure, sleep on the ground, live a LIFE OF DEPRIVATION… If you do this, you will be happy…” – Ethics of the Fathers (Avos), 6:4

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How and when was Ruth’s loyalty expressed? Her famous words immediately come to mind: “Do not press me to abandon you, to turn back and leave you behind. Wherever you go I shall go. Wherever you sleep I shall sleep.

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“The L-rd is my shepherd” [Tehillim Chapter 23:1] that herding sheep is among the most lowly of professions. Every day, the shepherd is working hard out in the field with his staff and backpack. Yaakov our Patriarch himself described what a hard job shepherding is: “By day scorching heat consumed me, and frost by night; my sleep drifted from my eyes” [Bereshis 31:40].

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Chapter 3, Law 3 “One who follows this path all his days is considered to be serving G-d constantly, even when he engages in business or in marital relations. [This is] because his thoughts in all such activities is in order that his needs be met so that his body will be whole to serve G-d. [The same is true] even when such a person sleeps. If he sleeps with intent that his mind be composed and his body rested so that he will not become ill (for he will not be able to serve G-d when he is sick), his [very] sleep will be considered Divine service.

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When David said “Guard my soul, for I am righteous” (Psalms 86:2), he meant: David said “I get up at midnight to praise You” (Psalms 119:62), but he also said “I cried out early, in the NESHEF” (ibid.147), and “neshef” means evening (Prov. 7:9: “In the NESHEF… in the evening of the day”). He meant that he was never asleep at midnight; or that until midnight he dozed like a horse and then rose up like a lion; or that until midnight he studied Torah and then sang praises. All other kings sleep until nine, but I get up at midnight to praise G-d.-

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He dreamed of a ladder that was standing on the ground with the top of it reaching into heaven, with angels of G-d going up and down. G-d was standing above him, and said, “I am G-d, the L-rd of Avraham your father, and the L-rd of Yitzchak. The land upon which you are lying, I will give to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will become like the dust of the earth, and will spread out to the west, east, north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you, and through your descendants. See that I am with you, and I will watch over you anywhere you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not abandon you until I have done what I have told you.” Ya’akov awoke from his sleep and said, “Indeed, G-d is in this place, and yet I didn’t know it.” (Bereishis 28:12-16)

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Solomon said, “Do not be among wine guzzlers” (Proverbs 23:20), “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, and poverty will come like a runner, and want will come like a soldier” (Ibid. 6:10–11), and “The point is, after everything else has been heard: `Fear G–d and keep His mitzvot, for that (alone) is the whole of man’” (Ibid. 12:13).

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