In advising R’ Shlomo Zarchi to make a minimal cheshbon hanefesh daily, the Rebbe said, “How can one go to sleep without having clarity as to what transpired that day?”
In the ways of Chassidus, Kerias Shema She’al Hamita (the Shema recited before going to sleep) is dedicated to self-reflection and to making a personal accounting of one’s avodas Hashem.
As a bochur, Reb Shlomo Zarchi once asked the Rebbe for directives on how to implement this avoda. The Rebbe guided him to think Chassidus for half an hour as a preparation to the Kerias Shema.
On another occasion, the Rebbe told him that the appropriate times for this avoda are Thursday night, Erev Rosh Chodesh and Chodesh Elul.
However, although one cannot perform the full avoda of Kerias Shema She’al Hamita on a daily basis, there must be a minimal daily reckoning.
The Rebbe concluded, “How can one go to sleep without having clarity as to what transpired that day?”
(As heard from Reb Shlomo Zarchi)
From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash
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