When a Yid engages in intense Torah learning, with kedushah and taharah, his world slowly but surely becomes illuminated. He sees clearly the way Hashem runs everything, even when it seems dark outside.
A Positive View on Darkness
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz once engaged in a conversation with a prominent rav on the importance of always remembering and keeping in mind that the Ribbono shel Olam runs the world. The Sanzer Rav outlined for him an entire schedule of what to think during each hour of the 24 hours in the day.
A few weeks later, this rav returned to the Sanzer Rav and said that it was too difficult to maintain this schedule, and in fact, it caused him to become confused. But the Sanzer Rav explained that this is precisely the way it must be: Prior to the creation of the world, there was תהו ובהו וחשך, and only later came the light. So, if we experience darkness and confusion, we mustn’t despair—for this is often the precursor to great light. We’re only at the beginning....
When a Yid who’s tethered to the Torah experiences a situation of darkness, he maintains this composure and equilibrium even within the darkness. He knows that the light is right around the corner. He will soon see the chiyus of Hashem’s commands, which animate the entire universe without the concealment that He deliberately brought. He feels and sees the way the Ribbono shel Olam is speaking to him within every situation that he endures, and his emunah is only strengthened through this.
The Torah Tells Us of Emunah
The first Rashi in the Torah poses the question of why the Torah didn’t begin with the mitzvos of the Torah, but rather with the narrative of the Creation. But this question is difficult to understand. Shouldn’t the Torah begin with the backdrop for it all? With the story of the Avos HaKedoshim? With the tenets of our faith? Should the Torah only speak of the laws and commands?!
But according to the yesod that we have brought here, it’s easier to understand why the Torah begins with Creation. Through engaging in learning the Torah and mitzvos, a Yid will arrive at the truth of emunah in any case. He will internalize the בראשית ברא אלהי-ם—even if he isn’t told all the events described in the earlier parshiyos of the Torah.
This is the secret that lies within the Torah. It opens our eyes to enable us to live with the knowledge of the yesodos of emunah. And this enables us to live a serene life and remain calm in every situation, because there’s a Ribbono shel Olam Who leads and guides me. The Torah enables a person to see what lies beneath the concealment of This World.
Experts See Things Differently
One who doesn’t understand how electricity works sees that he can flip a switch and the light will go on. But an expert electrician will walk into the same room and see everything differently. Why did you install so many watts? Ah, you needed to supply more power to this machine.... I see why you don’t run both machines simultaneously; it’s because you don’t have enough electricity for both....
He sees the entire picture differently than the layman does. The electrician studied the field, and he connected with its essence and foundations until it becomes part of him. He always sees what’s going on beneath the surface.
Torah Gives Us a Different Viewpoint
If it this way in the material world, it is surely the same way in the ruchniyus realm—since it is the foundation and the basis for everything. The Zohar HaKadosh tells us, אסתכל באורייתא וברא עלמא, the Ribbono shel Olam looked into the Torah and used it as a blueprint to create the world.
The entire world was created using the Torah, and when we engage with Torah, we learn how the world really works, and how the creation truly functions.
If we engage in Torah properly, we will see the entire world differently. When we see people, we won’t see their silliness and shortcomings. We will see their essence; their חלק אלו-ה ממעל.
This is why when tzaddikim saw their fellow Yidden, they immediately homed in on their most positive aspects. They always found a positive take on why others behaved the way they did. They always saw the essence—for the Torah transforms our outlook, enabling us to see the שם הוי’ that animates everything. Thus, we should see the Heavenly conduct that animates the creation, not merely the mundane worldly outcomes.
When a Yid draws his chiyus and excitement from the news, he sees the world in a very superficial way. “This one is a good politician... he understood how to campaign and how to talk... and that’s how he won the election.” But a Yid who draws his chiyus from the Torah will hear the same news but react completely differently: “Ah, the Ribbono shel Olam decided like this.... Okay....” He naturally sees the way everything is led and conducted by the בורא ומנהיג לכל הברואים. He doesn’t need to be reminded; he sees it this way to begin with, because the Torah connects him to see through the proper lens.
