Source for achdus being the only way klal yisroel could accept the Torah?

Question

I heard someone say that the only way klal yisroel was able to accept the Torah was through achdus?

Does anyone know the source for this? Is it in Chofetz Chaim Al HaTorah?

Answer 1

Rabbi Dovid Green quotes this idea in the name of the Slonimer Rebbe:

The prerequisite for accepting the Yoke of Torah is the commitment to unity.

See there for more on the topic.

In light of this, it illuminates the Midrash Chazal in the Mechilta (Yisro 19:2) ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר - And Israel Encamped there, opposite the mountain. The Midrash; noting the usage of ויחן as opposed to the plural ויחנו, says this is meant to connote the unity the Jewish people felt prior to acceptance of the Torah - As one man, with one heart.

Answer 2

See here from the Lubavitcher Rebbe:

לקבלת התורה הוצרכה ההקדמה דאהבת ישראל

To receive the Torah requires the preface of Ahavas Yisroel

The same idea is found (at the end of the following piece) from the Rebbe Rashab.

It seems to be a common theme in Chassidic thought. The basis is the Mechilta¹ brought by Rashi on Shemos 19:2 (as brought in footnote 28 of the first link).

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^{1. It can be found immediately preceding the beginning of פרשה ב.}