Emunah in Hashem's Hidden Shade During Galus

מ"ש לעיל כי תשובה ראשונה אל ה' שהוא עמנו בגלות בחי' אל אמונה ע"ז נאמר ישובו יושבי בצלו.

As mentioned above, that the first teshuvah is to Hashem, who is with us in galus — the aspect of "a God of faithfulness" — about this it is said: "Those who dwell in His shadow shall return" (Hoshea 14:8).

Building on his earlier point, the Sefas Emes says the first stage of teshuvah is returning to Hashem precisely as He accompanies us in exile — the dimension of "Keil emunah." The pasuk "those who dwell in His shadow shall return" speaks to this returning.

הגם דרש"י פי' שהיו יושבים בצלו מ"מ גם בגלות מאמינים בנ"י ונמשכין אחריו אעפ"י שאין צלו ניכר.

Although Rashi explained that they used to dwell in His shadow, nevertheless even in galus Bnei Yisrael have emunah and are drawn after Him, even though His shadow is not discernible.

Rashi reads the verse about a past dwelling in Hashem's shadow, but the Sefas Emes adds: even now in galus, when that protective "shadow" is not visible, Bnei Yisrael keep their emunah and remain drawn after Hashem.

כמו שדרשו חז"ל כתפוח בעצי היער שאין לו צל אעפ"כ בצילו חמדתי.

As Chazal expounded on "Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest" — which has no shade — nevertheless "In its shade I delighted" (Shir HaShirim 2:3).

Chazal note that an apple tree casts little shade, yet Bnei Yisrael say "in its shade I delighted." So too in galus: even where Hashem's protection seems absent, the people still cling to and find delight in that hidden shade.

ועי"ז זכו שנתגלה אח"כ כבודו ית"ש ונגלה עליהם בפרהסיא.

And through this they merited that afterward His glory, may He be blessed, was revealed, and He appeared upon them openly.

It was precisely their emunah in the unseen shade that earned them the open revelation of Hashem's glory that followed — at Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah.

כמו כן בגלות בצלו חמדתי אעפ"י שאין צלו ניכר.

So too in galus: "In His shade I delighted," even though His shadow is not discernible.

The same dynamic operates in our galus: we treasure Hashem's hidden "shade" even when His presence is concealed.

ולפי שישראל מאמינים בני מאמינים לכן ישובו יושבי בצלו ויזכו אח"כ (להעלות) [לעלות] עם השכינה כמ"ש ונשובה כמ"ש לעיל.

And because Yisrael are believers, the children of believers, therefore "those who dwell in His shadow shall return," and they will merit afterward to ascend together with the Shechinah, as it says "and we shall return," as mentioned above.

Since Bnei Yisrael are "maaminim bnei maaminim" — believers descended from believers — their emunah in galus ensures their return. Ultimately they will rise together with the Shechinah, which itself accompanies us in exile, as in the pasuk "and we shall return."

וכ"כ כנשר כו' על גוזליו ירחף אח"כ ישאהו על אברתו ודו"ק:

And so it is written: "Like an eagle… that hovers over its young" — and afterward "He bears it on His pinions" (Devarim 32:11) — understand this well.

The image of the eagle captures both stages: first Hashem hovers protectively over His children from a hidden distance (galus), and only afterward lifts them up upon His wings — the open redemption that follows faithful endurance.

Summary: The first stage of teshuvah is returning to Hashem as He accompanies us in galus, when His protective "shadow" is unseen. Because Bnei Yisrael are believers descended from believers, they cling to that hidden shade with emunah; through this they merit the open revelation of Hashem's glory and will ultimately rise together with the Shechinah, like an eagle that first hovers over its young and then bears them aloft on its wings.