Light - Ohr Haganuz - The Hidden Light
Although the Torah relates that the creation of light took place on the first day, it also states that the sun, moon, and stars were not created until the fourth day. These seemingly contradictory facts may be reconciled by the following two explanations:
- In reality, the substance of all heavenly bodies were created already on the first day. Nevertheless, their form and appearance only manifested themselves on the the fourth day when Hashem placed them in their positions in the sky. (Chagigah 12a)
- The light created on the first day is not the light which we know nowadays. On that day, Hashem created a powerful and brilliant light of such radiance that our sunlight is darkness in comparison. Subsequently, Hashem concealed this superlative light from the first day, and on the fourth day He provided the world with light from the sun and the moon.
Hashem created a spiritual illumination that allows us to perceive the deeper meaning of Creation and our existence. Adam in Gan Eden was allowed to benefit from the light of the first day. By means of it, for thirty-six hours, he was able to see from one end of the world to the other. (Yerushalmi, Brachot 8:5)
Access to the light was only made partial, and as Kabbalah explains, conditional:
In order to prevent the forces of evil from misusing this form of light, Hashem hid it within the Torah. Thus, He assured that only those who study Torah with effort and sincerity can benefit from this spiritual form of light. They will be rewarded with enjoyment of the light of the Shechinah for having studied Torah which is compared to light.
Through Torah and mitzvahs, in which the light has been hidden, the entire creation will come to the fulfillment of its purpose.
Access to the light was only made partial, and as Kabbalah explains, conditional:
He made a separation in the illumination of the Light, that it should not flow or give off light except for the righteous, whose actions draw it down and make it shine. However, the actions of the evil block it, leaving them in darkness, and this itself was the hiding of the Light. (Shaarei Leshem)
In order to prevent the forces of evil from misusing this form of light, Hashem hid it within the Torah. Thus, He assured that only those who study Torah with effort and sincerity can benefit from this spiritual form of light. They will be rewarded with enjoyment of the light of the Shechinah for having studied Torah which is compared to light.
Through Torah and mitzvahs, in which the light has been hidden, the entire creation will come to the fulfillment of its purpose.
Source: Midrash Says; Torah.org - Rabbi Pinchas Winston: Chaos From the Beginning
