Nugget #51 – Israel and its gift of unity

In the past we touched on unity by way of discussion on altruism, egoism, and community.  Here we will discuss unity directly.

Our strength, as Israel, is found in unity of the collective.  Leviticus 26:8 “And 5 of you shall chase a 100, and a 100 shall chase 10,000.”  Also a minion (10 righteous inhabitants) was required to spare Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18).  The Ten Commandments were given to the people of Israel, not to an individual (Exodus 20).  Salvation cannot come by an individual.  Salvation is by a collective, Israel.

Through this unity we represent the true and final form that we are to reach.  Israel is meant to exemplify to the world through example.  Deuteronomy 4:6-7 tells us that the nations will call us a “wise and understanding nation” because of the unity that Israel exemplifies with each other and with G-d.  That is our example for the rest of the world and it is our specialty and responsibility.

The Torah is not about individualism.  It is about the community and the individual responsibility of facilitating and upholding the structure.  It is not about a system of laws.  It is about learning where the individual responsibility begins and ends.  It is also about the community’s responsibility to the individual.  This is typically missed in discussions and teachings of Torah outside the Jewish Community and sometimes within the Jewish Community as well.