Weekly Letter: Advice to Benefit the World and Contribute to Peace
The Rebbe gives advice to one who is concerned about the state of the world in general and in this country in particular – advice to benefit the world and contribute to peace.
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 5741
Brooklyn, N.Y.
E.M.
Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375
Blessing and Greeting:
I am in receipt of your letter.
I am gratified to note that you are concerned about the state of the world in general and in this country in particular.
As for your question “What should I do?” – of course this depends on the abilities and opportunities which G-d grants each individual and there is no indication in your letter to make it possible to give concrete advice or guidance.
However, there is one thing which is applicable to every Jew in all situations, and it is obligatory on everyone to do what he or she can. It calls for some prefatory remarks:
There is surely no need to explain to you that the Creator of the world is also the Master of the world and that He has entrusted a great deal of its management to human beings. Therefore, it stands to reason that He would not have left such an important task entirely to the devices of human beings without providing definite guidelines as to what a person has to do to ensure not only his own well-being, but also the well-being of the world at large. These guidelines were given in the Torah, which is called Torah Or (the Torah is Light) because the Torah (meaning instruction) illuminates all things in their proper light and gives clear instructions. To be sure, the Torah is very extensive and profound and not every individual is able to become fully familiar with it. However, there have been persons who dedicated their entire life to the study of the Torah, generation after generation. These are the Torah authorities who have helped the Jewish masses to follow faithfully the way of the Torah and mitzvos, in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish everyday living, which the said authorities have prepared and arranged in a way that made it accessible to every Jew.
The Torah teaches us that by following its instructions in the everyday life, in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch, every Jew carries out the Divine Mission which is entrusted to him/her in this life on earth. This includes both the duty to strengthen and spread Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvos, within one’s family and community and also working for strengthening the moral fiber of the society in general in which one lives, by promoting the basic Divine Laws of morality, with all their ramifications which were given to the children of Noah (all mankind).
It may, at first glance, seem strange that observing such mitzvos as Shabbos, Yom Tov and kashrus and so on, can benefit the world at large and contribute to peace, etc., but on reflection, it should not be surprising at all that the limited human reason cannot understand something which has to do with G-d’s Will and Wisdom, which are essentially beyond human understanding. Certainly, the average layman cannot be expected to understand as much as the above-mentioned Torah authorities in every generation, who dedicate their life to the study of Torah. But, as in the case of various human walks of life, where a layman must necessarily depend on experts, so much so that in case of health one sometimes entrusts one’s life into the hands of a doctor, how much more so would a layman be well advised to rely on the spiritual guidance of competent Rabbis and Torah authorities, as mentioned above.
In light of the above and since you write, “I am a proud Jew, educated in our catechisms,” etc., I trust you will do all you can to spread Yiddishkeit in your surroundings, and there are surely suitable women’s groups in your neighborhood, such as a branch of Chabad women, in whose activities you could participate, which you will surely also find personally gratifying.
With blessing,
P.S. Enclosed is a copy of my message to the Midwinter Convention of Neshei Chabad, which I trust you will make good use of.