Rav Avigdor Miller mentioned that frequently.
Unfortunately, well-meaning shiurim often promote the idea of unifying with co-religionists who side — and some even actively fight for all of us to join up — with our physical and spiritual enemies (like Leftists do).
Many secular Jews are on the way toward Torah observance, even if they haven't yet started keeping Shabbat (or haven't started keeping it fully).
To bring evidence of the importance of unity, these well-meaning speakers showcase Dor HaFlagah, which deserved complete destruction for building the Tower of Babel, yet suffered "only" dispersion via the creation of multiple languages, with some participants being turned into apes, spirits, demons, or a type of demonic entity resembling a winged human (Sanhedrin 109).
Worst of all, the participants of Dor HaFlagah in the Tower of Babel hold no portion in the World to Come (Sanhedrin 109).
Yet the achdut shiurim often gloss over the above-mentioned extremely severe and irrevocable punishments suffered by Dor HaFlagah, whose unity derived from wicked motivations.
Well-intended promoters of baseless unity also point to the Destruction of the Second Beit HaMikdash, which occurred because of sinat chinam (baseless hatred).
Yet in their focus on the destruction of the Second Beit HaMikdash, these classes don't address the Destruction First Beit HaMikdash, which occurred with Holocaust-level suffering — despite their unity — due to their other sins.
And anyway, the Torah repeatedly exhorts us to hate sinful behavior and truly wicked people.
Until Mashiach comes, most secular Jews will never become religious (as has been proven true throughout the 20th Century).
And by adapting the attitudes of their surrounding now-Leftist societies, they support and even actively participate in attitudes and activities proven destructive to Am Yisrael and the world, both spiritually and physically.
So despite the well-meaning intentions of many speakers to foster unity and love among Am Yisrael, I don't see how unifying with co-religionists who — at best — disregard us and tread roughshod over Torah values, or who — at worst — actively hate us and seek to destroy us.
As discussed here before, the voices on the secular Left calling for unity ONLY desire unity with THEIR beliefs, and not anyone else's — not even God.
The Story of a Person who Self-Describes as "My Entire Being is Peace," Yet who Ironically Cannot Get Along with Anyone at Any Price – Literally
But this person also suffers from some serious downside regarding middot.
To protect the guilty, let's use a nice gender-neutral name like "Lee."
Lee ended up divorced 3 times before the age of 50 and never managed to get married again.
Lee grew up secular-traditional, became Modern Orthodox for a while, but then returned to secular-traditional.
Despite tremendous energy, high intelligence, high standards for the clients' good, and a savvy business acumen, Lee's businesses tend to soar, then fizzle out.
The reasons seem connected to Lee's middot.
For example, Lee managed to alienate good-quality and reliable suppliers due to an extremely short fuse and explosive nature.
Lee also sometimes treated competent employees in a seethingly condescending manner, simply for their inability to read Lee's mind.
Lee's family life also lies in shambles.
Lee produced 1 child, a very sweet and sensitive child, who also remains the only source of grandchildren for Lee.
Yet the adult child has gone no-contact with Lee, going as far as to call the police when Lee showed up in the adult child's backyard to attend a birthday party for one of the grandchildren.
(Lee somehow found out about the party, and insisted on showing up with gifts for the grandchildren. Without getting into the ethics regarding the behavior of the adult child and child-in-law, it's telling how this otherwise sweet and non-confrontational adult child feels so strongly against any contact with Lee.)
Lee also got into an ongoing fight with a sibling and their only remaining parent, which incited the elderly parent to write Lee out of an inheritance amounting to around 20 million dollars — a sum originally meant to be split between the two siblings.
As a result, Lee contacted my husband asking whether my husband could arrange for a Pulsa D'Nora on the sibling. (A Pulsa D'Nora is a rare ceremony used to curse a person. It can rebound badly on the participants. It's almost never done, not even once in 100 years. Anyway, it shouldn't be done unless the person you desire to be cursed is dangerously and irreparably wicked and you are fairly free of sin yourself.)
My husband politely refused and we suggested certain Tehillim for Lee to say instead.
Lee often feels disappointed in or betrayed by others (like when employees can't read Lee's mind; or when suppliers, despite their best efforts, cannot get ahold of rare high-quality supplies at the last minute), which incites Lee to lash out at them.
In response to being ousted from the grandchild's birthday party, Lee texted friends wit the following: Why are they treating me like this? I am only for peace. My entire being is peace.
This was a bizarre thing to hear from Lee because even people who like Lee see Lee as a fighter, and as someone who can be short-fused and very confrontational.
Jewish Unification can Only Happen under the Banner of Torah Values
I'm so PAINED by what's going on in Israel. They absolutely MUST get rid of Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, Smoltrich, and all the charedim who refuse to serve in the army!!!
What an incredibly rude message to send us. Lee knows full well we are charedim and live in a charedi neighborhood.
Also, Lee's comments about the politicians were stupid. I'm no supporter of Netanyahu (don't consider him trustworthy), but to blame just him or these three politicians?
Appalling Leftist stupidity.
Clearly, Lee's Tel Aviv location influenced Lee, causing the resulting brain-melt.
I considered replying briefly, then stopped myself.
What else can you expect from someone like Lee?
After all, Lee refuses to attempt any kind of self-restraint, no matter what the price.
Think about it.
What would you do for 10-20 million dollars?
Would you swallow your pride and your words to get along with your elderly parent and difficult sibling (or at least, perceived as difficult)?
A lot of people would do that for much less — like for $100,000, you could convince many people to just put a lid on it.
For a million dollars, for sure nearly everyone would agree to bit their tongue.
So Lee is very "special" in that respect, being willing forgo a split inheritance of $20,000,000 — just to have the last word and just to be "right."
Even more valuable than money — priceless, even — how much would you do to maintain a relationship with your only child and your only grandchildren?
Especially when the adult child is a fairly nice person?
Lee won't even do that.
So how possible is it to cultivate achdut with someone like Lee?
Remember: Lee self-describes as "only for peace" and as someone whose "entire being is only for peace."
The problem is always everyone else.
Lee can't even stay married, despite having tried 3 times.
How much would you need to compromise on your own values and swallow insults in order to achieve "unity" with Lee?
Really, you would need to quash any parts of yourself not to Lee's liking. You would need to suffer rudeness, offensive language, and insults.
This is important to remember when secular Leftists call on us to unite with them — when they call on all of Am Yisrael to unite together.
Like Lee, they sincerely view themselves as wholly peace-loving while actually carrying an enormous amount of hatred and derision for anyone not exactly like them, and seeking to cause tremendous harm in the name of peace and unity.
Just keep that mind when you hear their lovely-sounding proclamations.
- why-this-israeli-comedian-plans-to-keep-shabbat-for-the-first-time-ever-in-honor-of-parshat-zachor.html (an example of expressing unity correctly via the Torah commandment of Shabbat)
- rav-zamir-cohen-explains-once-and-for-all-why-dont-charedim-serve-in-the-army.html
- the-reality-behind-the-calls-for-unity-who-is-calling-for-unity-and-what-does-unity-mean-for-them-and-for-us-plus-what-real-unity-means-according-to-torah.html
- how-the-3-wicked-ancient-generations-parallel-our-challenges-today.html