“We must study the Torah early in the morning, for it quenches the thirst of the soul — that is, it drives away all suffering, harsh judgments, forces of evil, and all kinds of confusion.” (Likutey Halakhot, Rabbi Nathan of Breslov)
At the break of day, the soul is still tender — like a sky just beginning to brighten. Before the world pulls us into its noise, fears, and distractions, Rabbi Nathan teaches us to reach for the Torah. Just as one drinks a glass of cool water in the morning, Torah study awakens and soothes the soul.
Torah learned in the early morning becomes a kind of invisible shield: it quenches the soul’s thirst — the emptiness, the anxiety, the restless desires — and drives away the forces of darkness. It is a quiet, but powerful act. Even a few words read with sincerity can be enough. It is an act of gentleness, but also one of resistance. To begin the day this way is to choose not to be lost.
