Hidden Divine Light

איתא במדרש קץ שם לחושך זמן נתן לעולם כמה יעשה באפילה.

“It is stated in the Midrash: ‘He set an end to darkness; He set a time for the world, how long it should function in dimness.’”

This introduces the idea that God limits the period during which the world remains in spiritual obscurity.

כ"ז שיצה"ר בעולם כו'.

“As long as the evil inclination exists in the world, etc.”

The Midrash associates darkness with the continued presence of the yetzer hara.

כי אור הראשון היה מאיר מסוף עולם עד סופו וגנזו הקב"ה לצדיקים.

“For the primordial light shone from one end of the world to the other, and the Holy One hid it away for the righteous.”

The Sefat Emet recalls the hidden ‘original light’ that once illuminated all existence.

וכל החשכות שנמצא בעולם.

“And all the darkness found in the world…”

This darkness is not intrinsic but arises from concealment.

מכח הטבע המכסה זה האור הפנימי.

“…comes from the power of nature that covers this inner light.”

Nature itself acts as a veil hiding the hidden divine radiance.

וכשנעשה נס מתגלה זה האור.

“And when a miracle occurs, this light is revealed.”

Miracles momentarily lift the natural covering, allowing the primordial light to shine through.

והוא כולל מה שהיה ושיהיה.

“And it includes what was and what will be.”

This light contains past and future, transcending normal temporal limits.

לכן נתקן ההלל שיש בו מעבר ועתיד.

“Therefore Hallel was instituted, which contains both past and future.”

Because the revealed light encompasses all times, Hallel references redemption in both directions.

כי כשנתגלה מזה האור יש בו מסוף העולם כנ"ל.

“For when this light is revealed, it contains ‘from one end of the world,’ as mentioned above.”

The revelation restores the original expansiveness of the primordial light.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that darkness results from nature concealing the original divine light. Miracles temporarily uncover this hidden light, revealing a perspective that encompasses past and future, which is why Hallel incorporates both.