The Whole Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts By Rakefet Beke Moses
Hello, beloved ones,
This week, I chose to write about the idea of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. In this period, we are doing significant collective work centered on unity, and the weekly messages push us to understand the immense responsibility we carry and the importance of working together, especially now.
Before Yom HaZikaron, we were asked to join in a collective reading of the Tikkun for Shavuot night. Since the Tikkun is lengthy, we divided the reading among members of the Bareket community, with each person reading a portion. We trusted one another, knowing that together we would create a unified whole.
Personal Responsibility Enables Collective Responsibility
Through this joint reading, we realized how essential it is for each individual to take responsibility and fulfill their part. Transitioning to unity teaches us that every part is unique and significant. Each must be whole and fully expressed to connect meaningfully with others. When each part achieves completeness, the collective whole becomes not a patchwork of incomplete pieces but an extraordinary unity of complete entities.
In this way, each person’s wholeness contributes to a collective that surpasses the mere sum of its parts. By uniting many complete individuals, we construct a new, more stable and resilient world.
Until now, our lessons focused on individualism and self-reliance—valuable lessons that helped us learn about our unique strengths and develop a sense of completeness independently of others. Now, as we shift into lessons of unity, we must ask ourselves: How can I maintain my boundaries while integrating with those around me in a state of completeness?
The Individuality of Letters and Essence
At the beginning of the Rosh Chodesh Iyar initiation, we were shown each letter individually. Each letter, composed of many dots and potentials, connects to form lines. These lines meet others to create the letter, which then interacts with other letters to form words, and ultimately, sentences full of potential.
During the initiation, the first human explained that in the creation of the world, each “essence” had its own individuality and purpose. When it connected with another essence, they united around a shared intention while maintaining their unique identities—just like the letters, and just like us as human beings.
Expanded Potentials
During the initiation, I saw our essences expanding fourfold. Our individuality, bodies, and potential grew exponentially. This signifies that every action and word we contribute holds much greater influence. If we previously had a certain role in the world, today that role is four times more impactful!
This is why we must focus on unity and take actions that promote connection, knowing they have a multiplied effect. This responsibility underscores the importance of our actions for the future of the world.
Practical Steps Toward Unity
So, what actions can we take to foster unity? Start with simple activities that naturally combine elements into a shared purpose, such as cooking, painting, or knitting. When you consciously direct these actions toward unity, the energy of the action amplifies exponentially.
Additionally, every dialogue that fosters connection creates a ripple effect of unity. By engaging in conversations rooted in harmony, both participants contribute to a collective energy that magnifies their efforts.
Although the journey to living in communities of unity may seem distant, each of us has a role in moving the energy in that direction. Sometimes this can feel complex, but as the examples above show, it doesn’t have to be. Often, it’s about directing the energy of daily activities toward connection and unity.
What Can You Do?
I suggest making a list of daily actions you already perform and identifying those that involve combining elements into a shared intention. Next time you perform one of these actions, say aloud: “I, [your name], dedicate this act of [cooking/painting/knitting/etc.] to fostering unity in the world.”
Feel free to use this affirmation if it resonates with you. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this article and what daily actions you could channel toward unity.
Wishing you a unifying Shabbat,
Rakefet