There are times in the year, and even in the day, when the gates are open and a person can accomplish much more than on an ordinary day. Such an eis ratzon (time of Divine favor) is a practical opportunity to change decrees, open channels of shefa (abundance), and influence the entire course of the day. Rebbe Nachman warned – don't be a shlimazel (unlucky person)!

When the moment arrives, be there, and utilize it to the fullest.

Sunday, 23rd of Av - The Daily Strengthening from the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Everyone needs to see to it that they arrive at prayer on time; even if they have been awake all night, it doesn't matter.

Today (at the time the lesson was given), the time of netz (sunrise) is at ten to six. Even if people travel to the graves of tzaddikim (righteous ones) and are awake all night, it doesn't matter - one does not go to sleep before netz. Either one sleeps for an hour and wakes up (in time for netz), or one simply continues straight through until netz.

At 5:00, we say Hodu (the opening of the morning service) and at 5:50, we stand for the 18 (the Shemoneh Esrei prayer). It is also possible to start Hodu at 5:30; twenty minutes before netz, we begin Hodu, and at 5:50, we stand for the 18 and then go straight to bed (for whoever was awake all night) - but to sleep before netz is forbidden.

Because one must pray at netz; one must catch the prayer at netz, otherwise the prayer is not accepted—it doesn't achieve its effect. Prayer after netz doesn't accomplish anything [in the same way]; it's like saying Tehillim (Psalms), it's like saying Likutey Tefillot (the collected prayers of Reb Noson).

The segulah (spiritual power) of prayer is that it changes nature, it moves the stars—"And He arranges the stars in their watches in the firmament according to His will" (from the Maariv Aravim blessing). When we pray Maariv (the evening prayer) word by word, we move all the stars, we move the entire sun; King Hezekiah moved the sun.