It’s a question that's captivated Jewish mystics and scholars for centuries. And, like many profound questions in Jewish tradition, the answer isn't simple, but layered with meaning.

Let's dive into a fascinating discussion recorded in Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. We find Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak seeking wisdom from Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman. "Since I know you're a master of aggadah," Rabbi Shimon says, using the Hebrew term for storytelling and interpretation, "tell me, from what was the light created?"

Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman answers in a whisper, almost a secret: "It teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, wrapped Himself in it like a garment, and the aura of its radiance shone from one end of the world to the other."

Imagine that for a moment: God Himself, cloaked in pure light, illuminating all of existence. It’s a breathtaking image, isn't it?

But why the whisper? Rabbi Shimon is puzzled. "It's right there in the verse! 'Wrapped in light as if with a garment' (Psalms 104:2)! Why are you telling me this in hushed tones?"

Rabbi Shmuel responds, "Just as I heard it in a whisper, so I said it to you." This highlights a key element in Jewish tradition: some knowledge is so profound, so close to the divine, that it's shared with reverence and discretion. The mysteries of Creation are not to be taken lightly, or expounded upon carelessly in public.

This idea of secrecy around the most sacred knowledge is a recurring theme. It reflects the belief that some truths are best understood through careful study, personal contemplation, and perhaps, a bit of divine grace.

Then, Rabbi Berekhya enters the conversation. He adds another layer to the story. He says that had Rabbi Yitzḥak not already spoken about this publicly, it wouldn't have been possible to share this particular interpretation.

Before Rabbi Yitzḥak's public exposition, how did they understand the creation of light?

Rabbi Berekhya, quoting Rabbi Yitzḥak, offers a different perspective: the light was created from the site of the Temple. The verse he points to is Ezekiel 43:2: "And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the direction of the east…[and the earth shone with His glory]." Rabbi Berekhya equates this "glory" with the Temple, citing Jeremiah 17:12: "Throne of glory, exalted from the first, the place of our Temple…"

So, what are we to make of these different perspectives? Is the light God's garment, or does it originate from the Temple?

Perhaps the answer is both. Maybe these aren't contradictory ideas, but complementary ways of understanding the divine light. God's presence is manifest in the world, a radiance that fills all creation. And the Temple, the holiest place in Judaism, becomes a focal point for that light, a place where the divine presence is particularly strong.

The story in Bereshit Rabbah invites us to contemplate the very nature of light itself. It's not just a physical phenomenon, but a symbol of God's presence, His glory, and His creative power. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a spark of divine light waiting to be revealed.