Editing Galus (Exile) (section)

==== The Divine Light in Exile ====
During the time of the Temple, the divine light shone internally and openly in the Holy Temple, and a Jew could see holiness as visibly as actual sight (as our Sages said, "Just as he comes to see, so he comes to be seen"). But during exile, divinity is concealed, making the world appear as an independent existence.

The divine light that shines during exile is a "surrounding light" (or makif), whose influence on the world is not direct, and therefore is not felt. This is why during exile the Jewish people are in a lowly state and their higher status is not recognizable - because when the influence comes in a surrounding manner, the difference between higher and lower is not felt. This is also why during the Temple era - when the influence was internal - a Jew who transgressed sins punishable by karet (spiritual excision) or death by heavenly decree would cease to receive his life-force, but during exile, a Jew who transgresses can still receive life and abundance in this world.

This is why the state of exile is called "sleep" Above (so to speak) - because during sleep, a person's internal powers are not felt, and his life-force exists only in a surrounding manner. During sleep, the superiority of the brain in the head over other limbs is also not evident.