ערך חצות

The essential forgetting [shikchah] comes through the desire for licentiousness [na'of] — which is the desire for women — which is a language of forgetting [lashon shikchah], as it is written: "For G-d has made me forget [nashani], etc." [Genesis 41:51]. For the guarding of the bris is the aspect of sitra d'duchro [the male side] — the aspect of zocher [male] — the language of memory [lashon zikaron]. Through breaking one's sleep and rising at midnight [chatzos lailah] and mourning over the destruction of the Temple and engaging in Torah — through this one upholds faith [emunah] and nullifies heresies. And one merits to break the desire for money and to conduct commerce with honesty. And one merits the aspect of the building of the Temple — which is the aspect of the building of da'as. And to renew one's soul for the good, and to unify the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah, and to draw down Torah. And through this one merits complete Providence [hashgochah shelaimoh] and the aspect of: "I have set G-d before me always" [Psalms 16:8].

Through nullifying sleep and rising at midnight to engage in Torah — through this the hold of time [achizas hazman] is nullified. From which come all the changes and all the controversies and the hold of the yetzer hara and the sitra achra. And through this, bounty and livelihood flow to Israel.

Through the Bircas Kohanim [the Priestly Blessing], the road is repaired from all the pain and suffering a person has on the way. And therefore it is customary to bless one who sets out on a journey with the Priestly Blessing.