During a recent neurological conference in the United States, neurologists from around the world convened to discuss a strange phenomenon people: who faint as soon as they get out of bed in the morning.

One of the speakers was Professor Linda McMaron from Great Britain, who presented a long and complex lecture about this topic after having studied in it depth for many years. After years of observations and study, she came to the conclusion that the fainting phenomenon was the result of an overly quick transition between the prone and standing positions.

12 Seconds

Professor McMaron explained that the blood in the body requires twelve seconds for blood to flow from the feet to the brain. However, when a person gets up too fast (meaning, in under 12 seconds) then the blood finds itself “projected” too fast from the feet, causing a loss of consciousness. She recommended that every person waking up in the morning, even someone who does not experience any issues, should sit up on their bed and slowly count till twelve, in order to prevent any feeling of weakness, dizziness or fainting. Her lecture was welcomed with a very enthusiastic reaction and applause from the public.

12 Words

Then, another professor, a religious Jew, asked to speak. He said: “We Jews hold by an old tradition to recite a prayer every morning in tribute to the creator of the world, thanking Him for granting us us the privilege of waking up whole and healthy. This prayer is recited immediately  upon opening our eyes, while sitting on our bed.

This prayer is composed of twelve words, and if we recite it slowly, with fervor, it takes exactly twelve second to say it..... twelve words in twelve seconds.”

He then slowly recited the prayer in Hebrew: מודה אני לפניך מלך חי ומים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך

“I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.”

The crowd again stood up and clapped vigorously but this time in honor of the Creator of the world.

The Warning of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav

Rabbi Shneur Zalman from Liadi, founder of Chabad Hasidism, warned in the Shulchan Haruch HaRav, his compendium of Jewish Law (1:6) that “a person should wake up promptly but should not get up too fast. He should recite Modeh Ani slowly while lying in bed or sitting up.” He continued, warning, that “a person who awakes and immediately gets up is closer to death than to life…one should wait a little before rising.”