In Jewish law, gezel sheina (גזל שנה, theft of sleep) refers to waking up another person against their wishes. The term was first used by rabbi Israel Meir Kagan in his book Ahavas Chesed.
No law in the Torah or Talmud directly prohibits disturbing another's sleep. Nevertheless, some rabbis have prohibited or discouraged such behavior as being unkind to others and because it cannot be rectified.[1] The closest Torah law that is invoked is Love thy neighbor as thyself (Leviticus 19:18). Concerns are that taking another's sleep injures a person by making them less productive, less able to concentrate properly following their unexpected arousal, less competently able to perform their duties due to lack of sleep, more angry, and depriving one of a meaningful dream.[2]
nefesh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).