Gershon read: "Until the day be cool and the shadows flee away." This refers to the secret known to the Companions, that when a man's time comes to leave this world, his shadow deserts him. Rabbi Eleazar says that man has two shadows, one larger and one smaller, and when they are together, then he is truly himself." - Chaim Potok , The Book of Lights This reference has several levels of meaning. The "shadow" is just that - the darkness cast on the ground by our image bathed in light. Yet, it also means our dark nature, our negative impulse. It is important to ever beware of our yetser ha-tov and, at the same time, our yetser ha-ra . Both are necessary as they make us fully human.