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11 Quotes about the Importance of Unity and Love among the Jewish People
“‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Everything that you would like others to do for you, do them for your brothers.” – Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Shoftim, “Rules of Mourning.”
“Our nation’s success depends only on brotherly love, on connecting as one family.” – Rabbi Shmuel David Luzzatto
“The intention of creation was for all to be one bundle, to do the Creator’s will.” – Shem MiShmuel, Haazinu
“One does not live for oneself but for the whole chain. Thus, each and every part of the chain does not receive the light of life into itself but only distributes the light of life to the whole chain.” – Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Book Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
“The revealed unity of the moral, spiritual, and intellectual world, along with the material, technical, and social world is expressed in the world through Israel. The skill of the land of Israel is to establish in the world the revelation of this unity, which gives a new face to the entire human culture.” – Rav Kook, Orot HaKodesh
“Do what you can and the salvation of the Lord is as the blink of an eye. The most important thing before you today is the unity of friends. Exert in that more and more, for it can recompense for all the faults.” – Baal HaSulam, Letter No. 10
“The essence of the root of Arvut [mutual guarantee] is extended from the reception of the Torah, when all of Israel were responsible for one another. And this is because at the root the souls of Israel, all are considered as one because they are extended from the source of unity. For this reason, all of Israel are responsible for one another in the reception of the Torah.” – Likutei Halachot, Hilchot Arev
“‘And they shall all become one society.’ In that state, it will be easier ‘To do Your will wholeheartedly’… It is said about it in Midrash Tanchuma, ‘You stand today,’ as the day at times shines and at times darkens, so it is with you. When it is dark for you, the light of the world will shine for you, as it is said, ‘And the Lord shall be unto you an everlasting light.’ When? When you are all one society, as it is written, ‘Alive everyone of you this day.’” – RABASH, Letter No. 34
“It is written, ‘The Lord is one and Israel are one’; hence, they are adhered to the Creator, since it befits the One to cling to the one. And when is this? It is when Israel are bundled and attached together in complete unity. At that time, they are regarded as one, and the Creator is upon them, for He is one.” – Degel Machaneh Ephraim, VaEtchanan
“Repentance is mainly in uniting with each and every one in love and in one heart, to serve the Creator shoulder to shoulder. By this, the world of repentance and the world of mercy and the world of good will awaken. This is an intimation, as was said, ‘And all are reviewed in one review.’ This means that we should adhere and connect to one another and close into one another in the heart of each one. This is implied in the word ‘one,’ to become one bundle to serve the Creator wholeheartedly.” – Maor VaShemesh, “Intimations of Rosh HaShanah”
“Godliness is revealed in an assembly, and since then is the count by which we count the years of the ancestors, according to what was given to us in Moses’ law [Torah], and we know what unfolded since Moses to this day.” – Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi (The Kozari), “First Essay”
9 Quotes about the Importance of Unity Above Differences
“The vitality and sustenance and correction of the whole of creation are by people of differing views becoming included together in love, unity, and peace.” – Likutey Halachot [Assorted Rules], “Blessings on Seeing and Personal Blessings,” Rule no. 4
“Indeed, when all the disputes are elevated to the root of the source, to the world of unity, unity is formed over the names of the people of Israel.” – Maor Einayim, VaYetze
“In the Goren [place of gatherings], they would sit in affinity and friendship, and as one bundle, like the Sanhedrin, without suspecting one another, since they would see each other and hear each other and argue with one another until a proper instruction came forth.” – RASHI Commentary on Masechet Hulin, 5a
“It is good for the children of Israel to always unite together in one bundle. Then, even those who are of lesser degree help their friends sanctify with more holiness and attain more. The upper one needs the one below it, and the lower one needs the one above it. Likewise, you should always be bundled in one bundle, and then your roots will unite, as well. This is the meaning of ‘You will be unto Me a Segula [virtue/remedy],’ meaning that you will be a Segula in the upper world, as well, when you are in one unity below.” – Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Yitro [Jethro]
“A covenant is against the intellect, for when one takes good things from one’s friend, they should make a covenant. A covenant is needed precisely when each one has demands and complaints against the other, and they might come into anger and separation. At that time, the covenant they made obligates them to maintain the love and unity between them, for the rule is that whenever someone wishes to hurt the other, they have a cure—to remember the covenant that they had made between them. This obligates them to maintain the love and peace.” – RABASH, “A Covenant of Salt”
“There is a difference between the word ‘gathering’ and the word ‘grouping.’ It is written ‘Gather, purify,’ since gathering is more unification of the heart than the word ‘grouping.’ ‘Grouping’ pertains only to the body, although the views are not united. But a gathering of people is also with one heart. It is a gathering from the outside in, where they become very unified.” – Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein, Shem MiShmuel
“‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ is the great rule of the Torah, to include in unity and peace, which is the essence of vitality, persistence, and correction of the whole of creation—by people of differing opinions merging together with love, unity, and peace.” – Likutey Halachot [Assorted Rules], “Blessings for Seeing and Personal Blessings,” Rule no. 4
“Since we were ruined by unfounded hatred, and the world was ruined with us, we will be rebuilt by unfounded love, and the world will be rebuilt with us.” – Rav Kook, Orot Kodesh [Sacred Lights]
“Any turmoil in the world comes only because of Israel. Now we are called upon to carry out a great task willingly and mindfully: to build ourselves and the entire ruined world along with us.” – Rav Kook, Igrot [Letters], Letter no. 726
7 Quotes about the Importance of Unity as a Shield for the Jewish People
“If Israel were one bundle, no nation or tongue would be able to govern them.” – Tanhuma, Nitzavim, 1
“When Israel are all in unity, they do not fear a thing. For this reason, along with the punishment of exile came separation of the hearts and unfounded hatred, as without them, exile would have been impossible altogether.” – Shem MiShmuel, Balak
“When Israel’s unity is restored, Satan will have no place in which to install error and external forces within them, for when they are as one man with one heart, they are as a fortified wall against the forces of evil.” – Shem MiShmuel, VaYakhel
“When the children of Israel become one bundle, Amalek has no control over them. Rather, only in Rephidim [from the word ‘Pirud’ (separation)]. This is why Haman slandered, ‘There is one nation, scattered and separated,’ since their whole power was in unity, and now they are ‘a nation… separated.’ In truth, this is how it was: Through the sins, the force of Amalek awakened and did not let them unite. This is why it was said, ‘Go gather all the Jews … to assemble and fight for their lives,’ entirely through gathering and assembling. The righteous Mordechai joined them, and they became joined through him since he had the power of unity.” – Sefat Emet, Shemot [Exodus], for Purim
“When is the Creator fond of creation? When all of Israel are bundled together without envy, hatred, or competition among them, and each one thinks of one’s friend’s well-being and favor. At that time, the Creator is delighted with His creation.” – Zichron Miriam, Chapter 11
“Specifically, unity and unfounded love among us can lead us to congruence with nature’s system, and only then will the nations of the world recognize Israel’s merit, as it is written in The Zohar, ‘With this composition, which is The Book of Zohar, they [Israel] will come out of exile with mercy.’” – The Book of Zohar, Nasso
“When all human beings agree to abolish and eradicate their will to receive for themselves, and have no other desire but to bestow upon their friends, all worries and jeopardy in the world would cease to exist. And we would all be assured of a whole and wholesome life.” – Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”
Taken from the book, “Jewish Self-Hatred: The Enemy Within – An Overview of Jewish Antisemitism” by Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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