We live in the darkness of the exile where Hashem’s presence is hidden. In
darkness, vision is compromised and perception limited. To see in the dark, the
eye must adapt, undergoing changes in the rods and cones. The eye takes
approximately thirty minutes to fully adapt from bright sunlight to complete
darkness. As a people, we have moved from the bright light of Hashem’s manifest
presence in the Temple periods to the darkness of our current exile. Our
ability to see Hashem in this darkness requires both patience and a visual
adjustment. "A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless Hashem all you servants of
Hashem who stand in the House of Hashem in the nights (Psalm 134:1)." We are
the servants of G-D standing in His House in the night of our exile. David
exhorts us to remain Hashem’s servants, doing His work wherever and whenever we
can. He enjoins us to remain standing in Hashem’s House, in our temples and
our synagogues, patiently waiting for the darkness to lift and the redemption to
follow.