Toldot Yaakov Yosef

1 The discerning person will contemplate, and the understanding person will know. To interpret the section: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was unformed and void, etc.” And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light, etc.” (Genesis 1:1-5).

2 It seems to me that it says in the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 10b), “On Rosh Hashanah, Yosef emerged from prison, etc.” As it is said (Psalms 81:6): “He made it a testimony in Joseph when he went forth over the land of Egypt, etc.”

3 It seems to me that this can be explained. As I wrote later regarding what is stated in the Tikkunei Zohar (Tikkun 26, 70b), ‘I, the Lord, have not changed’ (Malachi 3:6). But regarding sinners, the Holy One, blessed be He, appears as though He has changed and He is concealed within many garments and within many coverings, and within many shells, which are the concepts of chaos, void and darkness, etc. And this is what is meant by ‘I will surely hide My face from them’ (Deuteronomy 32:20). But those who cling to Me and to My presence will never experience change, etc. See there (in the Zohar). Thus, we see that there are many garments and coverings in which the Holy One, blessed be He, hides Himself.