In Parshat Yitro, just before Matan Torah, the Torah describes Bnei Yisrael’s encampment at Har Sinai: “וַיִּחַן שָׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶגֶד הָהָר” – “And Israel encamped there opposite the mountain.” (Shemot 19:2)

Rashi famously points out the unusual singular form of “וַיִּחַן” (they encamped), rather than the expected plural, explaining that Bnei Yisrael were united “כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּלֵב אֶחָד”—like one person with one heart. Their unity was not just a detail—it was the very foundation upon which they merited to receive the Torah. A fragmented nation cannot fully accept Torah; only through achdut can we become vessels for divine wisdom.

In Pirkei Avot, we learn that when ten people learn Torah together, the Shechina is present. The Mishnah then teaches that the Shechina is also present among five, three, two, and even one. But if the Shechina is revealed even to an individual, why start with ten?

Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz explains that the Shechina is our ability to perceive Hashem. He compares it to cell phone reception—sometimes we have one bar, sometimes two, sometimes full service, and sometimes none at all. At Har Sinai, Bnei Yisrael reached full, uninterrupted connection with Hashem because they were completely unified. Their unity created the strongest possible reception to Hashem.

The Chafetz Chaim teaches that just as unity was necessary for receiving the Torah, so too, it is the key to the final Geula. The Gemara states: Rabbi Eliezer says: If Israel does teshuva, they will be redeemed; if not, they will not be redeemed. (Sanhedrin 97b)

Rambam codifies this in halacha: “Israel will only be redeemed through teshuva.” (Hilchot Teshuva 7:5)

But unlike personal teshuva that is individually returning to Hashem—an essential part of national teshuva is returning to achdut with our brothers and sisters as Hashem’s children.  To once again reach the level of  “כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּלֵב אֶחָד”.Now is the time to double down on ahavat Yisrael, on ahavat chinam, on seeing every Jew as part of ourselves. And when we do, b’ezrat Hashem, just as our unity at Har Sinai allowed us to experience the Shechina in its fullest revelation, our unity today will allow us to experience it again—this time, with the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days.