The light that G-d created on the first day—through it, man could see from one end of the world to the other. But when G-d looked upon the people of the Generation of the Flood and the Generation of the Dispersion, whose deeds were corrupt, He concealed it and set it aside for the righteous in the future.
(Bereshit Rabbah)
Revealed through Charity
Although G-d concealed this light for the righteous in the future, through charity that a Jew does, he draws down this light from above so that even today it will be revealed below.
(the Rebbe Rayatz)
Hidden in the Stories of the Torah
The light of the Torah and its foundations were hidden for the righteous within the narrative stories of the Torah. When the righteous study them and, through them, seek out G-d, this hidden light will ultimately come and be revealed to them.
(Keter Shem Tov)
The Light of Wisdom
Wisdom is called “light,” as the Zohar teaches that “light” is wisdom. The role of intellect is to shine upon the emotions of the heart—by clothing itself within the emotions to guide them according to reason, neither more nor less.
(the Rebbe Rayatz)
And G-d said: “Let there be light”, and there was light (Genesis 1:3).
When a Jew comes in prayer and asks G-d for light—that he should walk in the path of light and not sink again into darkness—then “and there was light”: G-d shines the way for him.
(Rebbi Nachum of Lekhovitz)
