Every Jew an Obligation to all Peoples

Excerpts of Sichos delivered by The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
Kislev-Nissan 5743, 1983
___________
Every Jew has the obligation, to ensure that all the peoples of the world, observe the Seven Noachide Laws. Although this task seems awesomely difficult, especially in this troubled time of exile; a true story concerning a Jewish yacht owner teaches, that a Jew’s actions have far-reaching influence, and the effect of even a single deed is immeasurable.
____________
The mission and purpose in life of the Jew, is to make this world a dwelling place for G-d. The world, which seems to run according to its own natural laws, is not independent. It has a Creator, Who has not left it unattended. G-d is on earth, just as much, as He is in heaven.

The Jew, through his service to G-d, demonstrates, that the spiritual and the physical, can be combined together. The mundane can be sanctified, and everyday life can become holy. So that G-d then openly dwells in the world.
_______________
The Seven Noachide Laws, are an integral component of the Jew’s task, to see that all peoples, not just Jews, acknowledge G-d as Creator and ruler of the world.

The world “was not created for chaos to be a jungle, but rather, to be inhabited.”

A chaotic world results, when there are no fundamental criteria, by which man lives; when morals and ethics, are based solely on man’s understanding.

Man's desires sway him to interests, other than reason and justice. We have only too recently seen, the destruction which results, when laws and philosophies are perverted, to serve personal ends, of individuals and entire countries.
_________
G-d, the Creator of the world, has not abandoned His handiwork, but has given clear guidance, how the world can be made “inhabited,” settled and productive, decent and enduring.
The nations of the world have been given a Divine code of conduct, the Seven Noachide Laws, which consist of six prohibitions against murder, robbery, idolatry, adultery, blasphemy, cruelty to animals — and one positive command, to establish a judicial system.

These Seven Noachide Laws are general statements, which, with their ramifications and extensions, encompass countless details.

The reason these Seven Laws are to be observed is also important. The Rambam rules (Code, Kings 8:11), that the Sons of Noach (i.e. all humanity), must observe these Laws, because “G-d commanded them in the Torah; and informed us through Moshe.
_________
A non-Jew who conducts himself in consonance with the Seven Laws, not because human logic compels him to do so, but rather because, they are G-d’s commands, transmitted through Moshe.

This ensures, that self-interest will never be allowed to pervert the Divine criteria of conduct. It is through the observance of the Seven Noachide Laws, that the entire world becomes a decent, productive place, a fitting receptacle for the Divine.

Then, promises Scripture, “the glory of the L-rd will be revealed, and all flesh together will see, that the mouth of the L-rd has spoken.”

The culmination of this will be, the Messianic epoch, when, through the agency of Moshiach, “all will call in the Name of the L-rd, and serve Him with a common consent.”
____________
A Jew has a crucial role to play in this. He cannot be a bystander, remaining aloof from the world’s conduct.

The Rambam explicitly rules (Code, Kings 8:10): “Moshe Rabbeinu commanded from the mouth of G-d, to inform all the inhabitants of the world, to observe the commandments given to the children of Noach.”

It is the Jew’s duty to see to it, to inform all peoples to lead a righteous and decent life, which comes from following the Seven Noachide Laws.

Not only is it a Jew’s duty, because he has been so commanded by G-d, but it is also to his own benefit. A world full of “chaos,” where nations and individuals live by no law ,except that dictated by self-interest; must inevitably affect the Jew.
___________
And, as noted above, the universal observance of the Seven Noachide Laws is the prelude to the Messianic era, when all will serve G-d together. Yet the task seems immense, beyond a Jew’s capabilities. All Jews together, are but a tiny minority, among the nations of the world.

How can Jews influence non-Jews, to acknowledge G-d, and observe the Seven Noachide Laws?

But even one action, can have far-reaching consequences, and ever widening ripples; until the cumulative effect of many such individual actions, will produce a mighty storm.
___________
A true story which happened only recently, illustrates just such a ripple effect.

A Jew, unknowingly started a chain of events, of which he could not even dream.

A Jew blessed by G-d with great wealth, likes to take an occasional vacation on his yacht. He employed a captain, to sail the yacht.

When the time for prayer arrives, the Jew knows, that he has to face towards the holy city of Yerushalayim, towards the east.

He is not a nautical man, he does not know where east is on the ocean. So he asks the captain. Time and time again, he has same problem, where is east. Again he asks the captain.

The first time he asks, the captain pays no special attention. But when the wealthy owner keeps on asking the same question, the captain becomes curious. So he asks him," Why is are you always interested, in knowing where east is?"

I am a Jew,” he answers, “and I want to pray to G-d. Prayers pass through the site of the Bais Hamikdosh in Yerushalyim. I must therefore face in that direction; which in this part of the world, is east. Every time I pray, I thus need to know where east is.”

The captain is greatly impressed. This is a successful man, wealthy enough to own his own yacht, and hire a captain to sail it. Yet he considers it proper and right, to interrupt his affairs, to pray to G-d. And to even bother, to face the correct direction.

I too,” exclaims the captain to the owner, “shall begin to think of G-d, and begin to pray to Him!”
______________
The story has a sequel. Some time later, the captain told the Jewish yacht owner, that ever since he decided to pray to the Creator of the world, he has, at every opportunity, also told his family and friends of the necessity to pray to G-d.

“If all the people of the world, would think about their Creator,”
concluded the captain, “the world would not be the jungle, that it is now!”
____________
The lesson from this story is clear: A Jew can influence people to acknowledge the Creator and ruler of the world; and to therefore conduct themselves accordingly, by observing the Seven Noachide Laws.

Moreover, as seen from the story, such influence is effective, just by a Jew being proud of believing in G-d.

The yacht owner did not consciously intend to fulfill the his duty to influence people to believe in G-d. But because he conducted himself properly, his influence was automatically felt.

He could not know, of the ripple effect he would cause, by merely by asking, where was east. And because of him, somone began to think about G-d, and conduct himself more righteously — and in turn, lead others in the same path. All because of one Jew’s actions.
____________
A Parable We can go further. Nothing in this world happens by chance. All is through Divine Providence. The above episode of the yacht serves as a timely parable, to a Jew’s function and place in the world.

The Jew’s task, we have explained above, is, through Torah, to reveal the G-dliness in the world.

The “natural” laws of the world, are but a mask, which conceals its true existence. Torah is the means, wherewith a Jews strips away these veils — and bring the world closer to G-d.
________
But a Jew can easily become despondent. The state of the world, is not heartening.

Nations do not seem to hearken to the voice of Torah; and governments, not Jews, seem to be the arbiters of the world’s conduct. The truth is different: The Jew and Torah can have influence on the world. It is only because of the darkness of the exile, that it seems the governments of the world, are its true arbiters.

The world in this troubled time of exile, is like a ship sailing in stormy seas; seemingly steered by the governments of the world.

But appearances are misleading. It is not they, with their plans and strategies, who truly determine its course and destination.

What is truly important in the world, what has a permanent effect, is the Torah and Mitzvos performed by the Jew. Before this, all else is insignificant, unimportant. Whether the world will be in better or worse shape, is in the hands of the Jew.

One Mitzvah, one act of bonding with G-d, has incredible repercussions — whether we are aware of it or not. Beyond the obvious, beneath the surface, lies much, much more.

The course of the world, is not determined by the physical. The spiritual is what counts. The governments who actually conduct the world’s affairs, are not more than the captain, who steers the ship on behalf of the owner.

Jews are engaged in loftier things, the things which are really important, Torah and mitzvos. But it is these things, which are the true determinants. The governments of the world steer the ship, the Torah (G-d) charts the course.
___________
This is what the above story, of the yacht, teaches:

Outwardly it seems, that the captain is the master, for it is he who controls the rudder, which steers the ship. Yet it is the owner who is truly the master; and it is the owner, who directs the yacht’s destination.
____________
Through Torah, the Jew can influence the world, can chart the course. just as the yacht owner, through acting according to the dictates of Torah, influenced the captain to come closer to G-d.

So too Jews in general, through standing strong in matters of Torah and Mitzvos — including the command, to inform non-Jews to observe the Seven Noachide Laws, can influence the nations of the world, to acknowledge the Creator and Master of the world.