Guidelines for Bonding

Do what you can and the Lord’s deliverance is as a wink of an eye. And the most important thing today is the unity of friends. Exert in that tenaciously, as it can complement all deficiencies.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 48

I have provided you with conducts by which you can nevertheless endure without regressing. The most special of them is adhesion (attachment) of friends. If you strengthen yourselves in that, you will certainly go from strength to strength on the rungs of sanctity.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 142

Hence, I shall remind you of the power of love of friends, especially at this time, as upon this depends our right to exist, and by that is our near success measured. So put away all your imaginary dealings and let your hearts devise and contemplate the proper modes to bond your hearts as one. Then, the verse “love thy friend as thyself” will literally be applied within you.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 144

One who is delivered by the Creator is delivered only when he needs deliverance today. One who can wait for tomorrow will gain his reason after his years. This happened to you because of neglect in my request to exert in love of friends. I have already told you in every possible manner that this remedy is sufficient to complement all your deficiencies.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 56

I shall ask of you to exert in love of friends, devise ways that can increase love among friends, and revoke the body’s lusts, as this is what casts hate, and there cannot be hatred among those who bring contentment to the Creator. On the contrary, there is love and compassion among them.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 145

If one does not have any desire and craving for spirituality, if he is among people who have a desire for spirituality, if he likes these people, he, too, will take their strength to prevail, and their desires and aspirations, although by his own quality, he does not have these desires and cravings and the power to overcome. But according to the grace and the importance he ascribes to these people, he will receive new powers.

--Baal HaSulam, Shamati, “He Did Not Say Wicked or Righteous,” article no. 99

Love one another as much as you can, as much as you love yourselves. Sympathize with your friend’s adversity, and rejoice in his joy as much as you can.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 54

One cannot raise oneself above one’s circle. Hence, one must suck from one’s environment. And one has no other counsel, except through much work and Torah. Therefore, if one chooses for oneself a good environment, one saves time and efforts, since one is drawn according to one’s environment.

--Baal HaSulam, Shamati, “Raising Oneself,” article no. 225

You must know that there are many sparks of sanctity in each of the friends. And when you gather all the sparks into one place, as brothers, with love and friendship, you will certainly have a very high level of sanctity.

--Baal HaSulam, Pri Hacham (A Sage’s Fruit), Letters, p. 56