Aerial view of Lyubavichi, public domain, Wikidpedia
By Vimpel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17861320
Aerial view of Lyubavichi
By Vimpel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17861320
The Russian Empire Pale of Settlement
"The Russian Empire Pale of Settlement where Jews were permitted to live. Shows Mogilev Governorate at the northeastern edge" Wikipedia, public domain
By Not specified in source. - Herman Rosenthal; J.G. Lipman; Vasili Rosenthal; L. Wygodsky; M. Mysh; Abraham Galante (1905) "Russia" in The Jewish Encyclopedia: Vol. 10, Philipson–Samoscz, New York, N.Y.: Funk & Wagnalls, pp. 531, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=407572
The Lubavitcher Rebbe on the Importance of Teaching and Inspiring Gentiles
The Lubavitcher Rebbe on the Importance of Teaching and Inspiring Gentiles
"The true and complete Redemption depends on “bringing the entire world to recognize the sovereignty of G-d.” Every person must hasten this, and help prepare the world to serve G-d as one.
Although one might think his interaction with non-Jews is mainly for economic purposes, a Jew’s real intention should be to guide and inspire them to fulfill their Seven Noahide Laws.
The Seven Noahide Laws are not simply legal matters – they are principles which precede and give meaning to all other laws. Laws only apply to people who are living; once someone is alive, he can be told to follow the law. But true “living” means being connected to Torah, which is “our life,” and observing its Mitzvos, by which “we live”.
So, first and foremost, one must see to it that his non-Jewish neighbor is alive!"
Everyone in Your Surroundings
20 Menachem Av, 5745 • August 7, 1985
http://www.chabad.org
Although one might think his interaction with non-Jews is mainly for economic purposes, a Jew’s real intention should be to guide and inspire them to fulfill their Seven Noahide Laws.
The Seven Noahide Laws are not simply legal matters – they are principles which precede and give meaning to all other laws. Laws only apply to people who are living; once someone is alive, he can be told to follow the law. But true “living” means being connected to Torah, which is “our life,” and observing its Mitzvos, by which “we live”.
So, first and foremost, one must see to it that his non-Jewish neighbor is alive!"
Two items of note here: 1) The idea that gentiles have worth and purpose. I wonder if the Rebbe was inspired to talk this way from his time in Berlin as I have wondered if R' Soloveitchik was turned on to the idea as well. It is of course a Torah idea but did not seem to be an item of focus in Eastern Europe.
2) The idea that you have to be alive before you are given rules. And to be aware of God is to be alive. I have seen and experienced the imposition of rules without any teachings about God. As R' Miller said, you can't have yiras shemayim without shemayim.
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