Unity Reserved for Israel
בענין דור הפלגה כתבנו במ"א כי למה ניטל מהם האחדות באמרו ית' הן עם א' ועתה לא יבצר כו' היפלא מה' דבר.
“Regarding the Generation of the Dispersion we wrote elsewhere: Why was unity taken from them, when the Blessed One said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and now nothing will be withheld… is anything too wondrous for God?’”
The Sefat Emet recalls an earlier teaching: although the generation possessed immense power through their unity, God removed that unity from them despite acknowledging its potency.
אך לא רצה הבורא ית' להחליש כח האחדות בעבור כי הוא נצרך לבני ישראל וניטל מהם האחדות וניתן לנו ע"ש.
“But the Creator did not wish to weaken the power of unity, for it is necessary for the Children of Israel; thus it was taken from them and given to us.”
Unity itself is a sacred force. God did not abolish it; He merely withdrew it from those who misused it and entrusted it to Israel, who must channel it toward divine service.
וכמו כן נאמר כי כמו בהתחלת הבריאה הי' נמצא כח האחדות.
“And likewise we say that just as in the beginning of creation the power of unity was present…”
Creation began with a primal, undivided unity, before multiplicity emerged.
כמו כן בתחילת כל שנה ושנה כשהבורא ית' מחדש החיים על כל השנה נמצא זאת האחדות בעולם.
“So too at the beginning of every year, when the Creator renews life for the entire year, this unity is found in the world.”
Each new year recreates the world’s original unity; renewal is not only biological but metaphysical.
והימים הנוראים וחג הסוכות הם עצות איך ליקח האחדות רק לבנ"י ע"י ימי הדין שבנ"י חפצים בקבלת מלכות שמים כמ"ש אמרו לפני מלכיות.
“And the Days of Awe and the festival of Sukkot are strategies for drawing that unity specifically to Israel, through the Days of Judgment, for Israel desires to accept the yoke of Heaven, as it is said: ‘Say before Me verses of Kingship.’”
The High Holy Days guide Israel toward claiming that unity through sincere acceptance of God’s kingship.
וכוונתם בקבלת החיים רק לשעבד עצמו להבורא ית'.
“And their intention in receiving life is solely to subjugate themselves to the Blessed Creator.”
Life is sought not for personal gain but to serve God more completely.
היפוך האומות עו"ג דמה דעבדין לגרמייהו עבדין.
“The opposite of the idolatrous nations, who do whatever they do for themselves.”
In contrast to Israel’s God-centered service, the nations act for self-interest rather than divine purpose.
וכמ"ש במ"א מענין הימים שמר"ה ועד עצרת שמתקיים עצרת תהי' לכם דהיינו האחדות כנ"ל ודו"ק והב"ן:
“And as written elsewhere regarding the days from Rosh HaShanah until Shemini Atzeret, through which ‘Atzeret shall be for you’ is fulfilled—that is, unity, as above; ponder this well.”
The entire festival cycle culminates in Shemini Atzeret, a day symbolizing the distilled unity meant for Israel.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that unity is a divine force originally embedded in creation, renewed each year, withdrawn from those who misuse it, and entrusted to Israel, who claim it through the High Holy Days in their commitment to divine service.