‘Like one person, with one heart’

We are about to celebrate the anniversary when we stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, and the Almighty revealed His presence to us, telling us the Ten Commandments, and telling Moses to tell all the nations the Seven Noahide laws, which will bring peace to the world.

The Jewish people stood together, united, “like one person with one heart.”

We learn this from the phrasing in the Torah (Exodus 19; 2):

ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר

“And Israel encamped there opposite the mountain.”

The word ויחן (and he encamped) is singular form. Why did the Torah not use the plural form? — “And they encamped.” Indeed the beginning of the verse does use the plural form: “And they journeyed from Rephidim, and they came to the desert of Sinai, and they encamped in the desert,” — but then the verse switches to the singular form: “and Israel encamped (ויחן -singular) there opposite the mountain.”

And the commentary Rashi explains, that the Torah uses the singular form, because when the nation came to Mount Sinai, they were like one person with one heart.

How can an entire nation be so united? The Alter Rebbe (the first Lubavitcher Rebbe) explains in Tanya chapter 32 (the number 32 is spelled לב — heart) that when we focus on our existential being, a soul from above, then we can be united as one. Because our souls are united as one.

When we stand opposite the mountain, when our focus is on the Almighty and His Torah, and we internalize that ultimately and intrinsically we are one people, when we look higher, than we can unite as one. With one heart.

Two Jews are three opinions, the saying goes. We debate. We argue. We differ in our opinions.

But when we are keenly aware, that even as we differ, we are one, with one heart, one nation united, then we can love one another because we are loving ourselves. Because we are all one.

“And you shall love your friend as yourself.” (Deuteronomy 19; 18) Because you are part of me.

These days, as Jews and Israelis argue, as elections in Israel approach, as everyone wants their party to rule, and every politician want to gain power, these days, it’s crucial to remember, that ultimately we are one people, like one person with one heart.

And when we do so, we come closer to our heritage, and we fulfill the Mitzvah (commandment) to love our friend like ourselves.

With one heart.

And we then open more channels to receive Divine blessing for peace and prosperity.

And we hasten the complete Redemption, when we will unite, as one people, with our One G-d.

And “the entire world will be filled with awareness of G-d, just as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11; 9)

May it happen very soon.