“And It Came To Pass”

The Rabbis have noted that whenever the word, ״ויהי״ “and it came to pass”, is written, something negative is about to transpire.

In Parshat Shemini, the death of Nadav and Avihu, followed this ויהי. In the Megillah of Purim, it begins with ויהי, and it is followed by the feast of Achashveirosh, that led to the evil plot of Haman.

Rav Kook asked what negative connotation could there be with the words in the beginning of the Torah, when it was written, ויהי ערב ויהי בוקר, “And it was evening and it was morning.”

He answered that because of the רשעים, the evil people of the world, the sacred light of creation, needed to be hidden. This light was reserved for the righteous who would bask in the glory of Hashem.

This light is referred to as the אור הגנוז, “the hidden light,” and it could only be perceived by the holiest of men. This is also the source for the term, צמצום, or “constriction.” As humans, we are only capable of perceiving a limited manifestation of G-d. When we are no longer held prisoner by our bodies, we will be able to see more of this light. The righteous can have a greater perception of this light, even in this world.

The negative ויהי in creation is the sadness we might feel in not being able to fully perceive our Creator. It is hoped that we are able to achieve a level of awareness of this loss. That is a step in the right direction in raising the level of the world, when all will acknowledge the one true G-d of Israel.