The words of Rebbe Nachman, “ואפילו בהסתרה שבתוך הסתרה,” were made famous through a beloved song that brought his deep teaching to hearts around the world. The message is life-changing: even in the places that feel the most dark, confusing, or distant, Hashem is still there. He hasn’t left you. He’s just hidden. And even then, even in the “hastarah,” He is present, waiting to be found.
Rebbe Nachman teaches that there’s not just one level of hiddenness — there are two. The first is when a person feels that Hashem is hidden from them. They’re searching. They want to feel connected. But try as they might, they just can’t seem to find Him. That’s a painful place to be, but at least there’s some awareness. The person knows they’re searching. They know something is missing.
Then there’s the second, more difficult level: “hastarah shebetoch hastarah” — the hiddenness within the hiddenness. This is when a person doesn’t even realize that Hashem is missing from their life. They’re not searching because they don’t know they’re supposed to be. They’re stuck in a fog, disconnected not only from Hashem, but from the fact that they’re disconnected. It’s a deeper kind of darkness.
It is here where Rebbe Nachman gives us something so powerful. He says that even in that place — in fact, especially in that place — Hashem is still fully present. And all it takes is the smallest stirring, the faintest whisper of teshuvah, the tiniest flicker of yearning… and you’ve already started to find Him. That first crack of awareness, that little feeling of “something more,” is already light beginning to break through.
This is where this song comes in. The words are based on a teaching said over in the name of the Baal Shem Tov zy“a:
אם ידע האדם בידיעה ואמונה שלימה שבכל הסתרות ומחשבות זרות בורא עולם מסתתר שם, אין זו הסתרה כלל. כי בידיעה שאדם יודע ומאמין שבכל תנועה והרהור דבר גדול ודבר קטן – שם הוא אלופו של עולם ושם יש אלוקות – יתפרדו כל פועלי און, והרע יפול למטה ויתגלה האור האלוקי
The Baal Shem Tov, together with Rebbe Nachman, focuses on this moment — the moment when even the most distant soul is reminded that Hashem hasn’t left. And the music picks up the message. It calls to the listener with love: “Be strong!” Because if you can realize this truth, if you can wake up to the idea that Hashem is found within the hiddenness, then He is not truly hidden anymore. The moment you recognize He’s there, you’ve revealed Him. You’ve just found Hashem.
These lessons aren’t meant to stay in a book or a song. They’re meant to carry us through real-life moments. Moments when you feel numb. Moments when you’re lost. Moments when you don’t even feel like you’re trying. The Baal Shem Tov and Rebbe Nachman are saying: it’s not too late, and it’s not too far. The smallest movement toward Hashem from your end meets the infinite presence of Hashem on His.
That’s the breakthrough. That’s the light in the darkness. And that’s the encouraging voice of the Baal Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman, and all the Tzadikim, reminding us that no matter how far we think we’ve gone, Hashem is even closer than we imagine. Always.
Song Name: Ein Zeh Hastara
Artist: Mendy Worch
Lyrics: אם ידע האדם שהשם מסתתר שם, אין זה הסתרה כלל
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 44.