The Power of Unity: Why Division Was the First Step to Slavery

In his book Nefesh Chayah, Rabbi Raphael Kadir Tzaban explains that Pharaoh’s fear of the Jewish people was rooted in one powerful trait: their unity.

The Torah describes the seventy members of Jacob’s family using the word nefesh, a singular term, rather than nefashot. This teaches that they were like one soul, deeply united.

Pharaoh understood a crucial truth. As long as the Jewish people remained united, no force in the world could overcome them. Even when they were spiritually lacking, their unity served as a powerful protection.

Our Sages teach that in the time of King Ahab, the people were involved in idolatry, yet they were victorious in battle because they were united. In contrast, in the time of King David, although they were righteous, internal division led to defeat.

Pharaoh’s strategy was clear. If he wanted to weaken them, he first had to divide them.

Divide and Conquer

Pharaoh began to sow division in subtle but effective ways.

He appointed Jewish overseers to supervise their own people, creating tension and resentment within the nation. He also introduced policies that would naturally lead to conflict. For example, when he forced them to gather their own straw for making bricks, it created competition and friction. Each person struggled for resources, and arguments became inevitable.

He even ensured that they would not gather together. Because gathering strengthens unity, and unity brings strength.

By breaking their sense of togetherness, Pharaoh made it possible to control them.

What Moshe Saw

When Moshe first left the palace to see the suffering of his people, he witnessed two painful scenes.

On the first day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Jewish man. Moshe looked around, expecting someone to step in and help. But no one moved.

The Torah says, “He looked this way and that and saw that there was no man.”

It was not that there were no people there. It was that no one acted. No one rose to defend their brother.

Moshe stepped in and saved him.

At first, Moshe judged his people favorably. Perhaps fear and oppression had paralyzed them.

But the next day, he saw something even more troubling.

Two Jewish men were fighting each other.

This shocked him deeply. It is one thing to see oppression from the outside. It is far more painful to see division within.

He turned to one of them and said, “Why are you striking your fellow?”

The response was harsh and defiant. “Who made you a leader and judge over us?”

At that moment, Moshe said, “Indeed, the matter is known.”

The Midrash explains that Moshe now understood something profound. He had wondered why the Jewish people were suffering so greatly. Now he saw that internal division was part of the problem.

The Lesson of the Tower of Babel

The power of unity is so great that even when used for the wrong purpose, it creates strength.

The generation of the Tower of Babel united to rebel against Hashem. Yet they were not destroyed.

Why?

Because they were united. The Torah describes them as speaking one language, acting together with a shared purpose.

Instead of destroying them outright, Hashem first broke their unity by confusing their language and scattering them across the earth.

Only after their unity was weakened could they be punished.

This teaches us a remarkable principle. Unity itself is a powerful force, regardless of how it is used.

The Strength of Togetherness

If unity has such power even when used for negative goals, how much greater is its strength when used for good?

The Chafetz Chaim taught that the measure of good is far greater than the measure of punishment. If unity can protect even those who misuse it, imagine what it can accomplish when directed toward serving Hashem.

A Simple but Powerful Lesson

A father once saw his sons constantly arguing. Before he passed away, he asked them to bring him a bundle of reeds.

He told each son to try to break the bundle, but none could do it.

Then he untied the bundle and gave each son a single reed. This time, they broke them easily.

The father looked at his sons and said, “When you are united, no one can break you. But when you are divided, you can be broken easily.”

A Message for Every Generation

The message is clear and timeless.

Unity is not just a nice idea. It is a source of strength, protection, and success.

Division weakens. Unity builds.

When we support one another, stand together, and maintain respect and connection, we create a powerful foundation that cannot easily be shaken.

And when we lose that unity, we become vulnerable.

The choice is ours.