“He lay down in that place.” (Bereishis 28:11)

“In that place” denotes exclusion. He lay down in that place but throughout the 14 years that he learned in Yeshivas Sheim v’Ever he did not lie down at night for he was involved in Torah study (Rashi).

Even on this occasion the first time in 14 years that Yaakov Avinu lay down he did not lie on a mattress and pillows. Instead he lay on a stone. This indicates that throughout those 14 years of uninterrupted study he did not even lie on a stone.

How is that possible?

Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz ztz”l explains that this ability to remain awake for 14 years was not attributed to a miracle. Rather the secret of his success stemmed from the fact that he utilized all of his strength. We can conclude from this that any man who utilizes all of his abilities and efforts can achieve unbelievable things.

We see such a phenomenon when a disaster occurs Rachmana litzlan and a single person becomes capable of carrying a burden that ordinarily would have to be borne by several people. Circumstances bring him to utilize all of his strength at that moment. Later in the parshah we find the same idea with Yaakov Avinu as the Torah says “They said ‘We cannot [move the stone] until all of the shepherds arrive.’ ” … The stone was simply too heavy. Yet Yaakov approached and rolled the stone off the well. (Kovetz Sichos of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz cited in Lekach Tov)

I have to start going to sleep earlier at night. I’ve been so exhausted lately.

Recently I’ve been trying to stretch myself to accomplish 23-hour days. Swollen eyes and an enthusiastic hammering in my head have become my reward for the audacity of thinking that I’m all-powerful.

Now here I am half an hour before bedtime and there is a stone covering the well. What kind of stone? There are still shirts to be ironed for tomorrow chicken to defrost and puddles of ketchup and sandwich crusts on the kitchen table. It’s a heavy aggravating stone and I simply don’t have the strength. Bedtime begins to get further away and I start yawning but what can I do? I still haven’t managed to complete anything on my list.

Suppose just suppose that for every shirt I iron I will receive a huge diamond — ten carats. For every puddle of ketchup — a sapphire. Regardless of my exhaustion suppose I envision that for every minute I manage to get to bed early I’ll be reimbursed $10 000. Do you think I’d still lack energy and motivation? Don’t you think that that stone will become a mere pebble in my eyes?

“Like a person removing a cork from a bottle — this teaches you that his strength was great.” On a simple level we might understand that he had tremendous physical strength. But in reality his strength stemmed from focusing his heart. This was the same willpower that kept him awake for 14 years. Everyone who focuses his heart can roll that stone off of the well. (ibid.)

Imagine within yourself is a merchant assessing the value of each act you perform and assigning it a monetary value. How much is it worth when you change out of an old housecoat to put on something that your husband likes?

How much will you net when listening intently to the most boring story as your ten-year-old son relates it? What’s your profit when bentsching with kavanah? Aren’t these diamonds the value of your eternal life?

The Chofetz Chaim explains the pasuk “I have rejoiced over Your word like one who finds a great treasure” (Tehillim 119:162). Dovid HaMelech said this about the value of his Torah study. If a person knew that a treasure of precious stones and gems was buried in a certain place and he had only a short time in which to collect them he would invest every drop of his strength to collect as many as possible. As Chazal say “One moment of teshuvah and good deeds in This World is worth more than the entire World to Come” (Avos 4:22). (ibid.)

No one is denying that I’m really tired. No one is trying to convince me that I don’t want to go to sleep. But when I see how much I can gain then suddenly I have strength. Not physical strength but strength from focusing my heart.

And by focusing your heart you can reap the greatest treasures.

Swollen eyes and an enthusiastic hammering in my head have become my reward for the audacity of thinking that I’m all-powerful