One Plus One

As human beings, we are each one with our own personality. Yet as Jews , we are one because the Torah unites us, into a specific mindset that starts with ONE creator H'. It took 40 years in the desert to truly unite the Jewish people so that the should feel as one - despite their individuality. There must be a balance between being unique as we are, and feeling part of a larger community qua Jews.
Hard to fathom how we are one!?
Yet we are , if we take Judaism seriously , and strive to the best of our ability to be part of that larger group: a few examples: when we give Tzedakah gathering for prayer, celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut, planting trees in Israel.
H' is ONE, and the Jewish people ( as "Am Segulah" ) should strive to be one. Reply

It's hard to visualize this oneness when Hamas invaded and massacred people who were having a joyful celebration like Simchat Torah, where the people had gathered to dance and sing and share the oneness of God. Or a woman stabbing a 3 yr. old and his mother who were just shopping for groceries one day. And on, on, on.
Its hard for me to visualize a man throwing a living 2 day old infant by the feet into a river.
It's also hard to see through all this depravity to a time when we are all one.
I know it will happen because the Bible say so, but it is hard to imagine.
Throughout Scripture there are the ones who are called the Chosen, or the Called Out, the separation of the wheat from the tares, so to speak. This seems to speak of a separation of good and bad. It's a confusing state of affairs. Reply

From another point of view, we are like a mosaic. A mosaic consists of thousands of little stones. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow, some are gold. When we bring our faces close to the mosaic, we can admire the beauty of each stone. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these little stones reveal to us a beautiful picture, telling a story none of these stones can tell by itself.
That is what our life in community is about. Each of us is like a little stone, but together we reveal the face of God to the world. Nobody can say: “I make God visible.” But others who see us together can say: “They make God visible.” Community is where humility and glory touch. Reply

Rabbi Freeman … I see a possible contradiction. You praise diversity and then we have:

"Do not intermarry with them: do not give your daughter in marriage to his son, nor shall you take his daughter to your son; for they will turn away your son from following Me... For you are a holy people to the L-rd your G-d, and L-rd your G-d has chosen you to be a special people to Himself" — Deuteronomy ... How do we explain this apparent contradiction with what you write? Reply

The simple Arava has the essential ingredient for
positive change, like the acorn that morphs to an oak tree. The Negev wastes are the Arava of Zion. Ben Gurion streesed this point with Sdeh Boker as the focal point. Today we have Ohr Chabad which we must support to become that 21st century Nes Lagoyim. Reply

One + One
Does not equal 2
It creates something new.
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When we enter the sukkah, we close the door on our way of life in our permanent home in this world.
We put a cover over our egoistic ways as symbolized by the thatched roof. Instead we feel our oneness to receive the Light of abundance and love. I wish to pass it through me to all. We place a thick covering (roof) over our selfish desires and negative thoughts so that we allow the 'guest' to enter the sukkah, the presence of G_d is revealed between us when we all feel as one harmonious being as His Light flows between us to connect us to our essence. Reply

These comments that I see today are a balm at this time. I too at this times am experiencing some pain from a disappointment, nevertheless we have the strength to know the tent of Harvest is there for us all.
Thank you, Rabbi Tzvi. Reply

Thank you. Soon very soon. I was struggling with some darkness. Thanks for that ray of hope. I'm so forgetful of the truth I know so well. Oiy Reply

So Beautiful. Reply

The perfect harmony. It's a big tent, we're a big family. Some of us find themselves on the outer fringes of this big family, but even then, there's room on the next train for ALL OF US. Reply

In-divi-dual more or less For they who know more and for they who know less, are they not the same? For both need the same unity that He above give directions to all. That in the name individual (dual) exists two who wrestle along the path of judgment. For in this is revealed the purpose of the reflected image divided, becomes one from which it began from. Reply