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Universalism

The Glory of All

I love all; I cannot but love all: All the nations. From my very depth, I want the glory of all, The perfection of all. My love to Israel burns more greatly And is deeper, But this inner desire spreads out in the force of its love To all. I have no need at all to force this feeling of love-- It wells directly from the holy depth of Wisdom Of the Godly soul.

Arpelei Tohar 22

The Fourfold Song

There is a person who sings the song of his soul. He finds everything, his complete spiritual satisfaction, within his soul. There is a person who sings the song of the nation. He steps forward from his private soul, which he finds narrow and uncivilized. He yearns for the heights. He clings with a sensitive love to the entirety of the Jewish nation and sings its song.

There is a person whose soul is so broad that it expands beyond the border of Israel. It sings the song of humanity. This soul constantly grows broader with the exalted totality of humanity and its glorious image. He yearns for humanity's general enlightenment. He looks forward to its supernal perfection.

And there is a person who rises even higher until he unites with all existence, with all creatures, and with all worlds. And with all of them, he sings.

Orot Hakodesh II, p. 444

Finding Oneself

Each individual finds himself within himself. Then he finds himself within his surroundings: His friends, community and people. The community finds itself within itself. Then it finds itself within all humanity. Humanity finds itself within itself—at least, at first. Then it finds itself within the world. The world finds itself within itself. Then it finds itself within all the worlds surrounding it.

Orot Hakodesh II, p. 447

All translations on this site copyright 2020 by Yaacov David Shulman