Rabbi Nachman's Teachings on Tikkun Olam: Spiritually Perfecting the World

Our Sages taught that every person must say, " The whole world was created for my sake."[1]     Therefore, since the whole world was created for my sake, I must always be concerned with improving the world, fulfilling the needs of humanity, and praying for its benefit (Likkutei Moharan 1, 5: 1).

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The greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He, is primarily revealed when the gentile nations, too, come to know that there is a Divine Master and Ruler. As the Zohar states: "When Jethro came and said, 'Now I know that God is great' (Exodus 18: 11), the Supernal Name became endeared and exalted"[2] (Likkutei Moharan 1, 10:1).

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In the Ultimate Future, speech will be perfected. Even the non‑Jewish nations will use their power of speech to call out to God, as it is written, "For then I will convert the nations to a pure speech, that they shall all call upon the name of God" (Zephaniah 3:9). Thus, speech will be perfected. At present, speech is lacking and incomplete, for the whole world is not using the power of speech to call out to God. However, in the Ultimate Future, they will all use the power of speech to call out to God, even the non‑Jewish nations. Then speech will be perfected. This is the aspect of "a pure speech," since everyone will use speech to call out to God (Likkutei Moharan 1, 66:3).

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One must not let the world fool him, for no one ends up well in this world. All people, even those who possess everything the world has to offer, eventually experience great suffering. The suffering of one generation affects the next generation as well.

The nations of the world also need to realize this. Since the world's allurements are really of no worth, what should they do with their lives? For this, they must have great merit - to know their true calling in life. However, Israel has been spared this dilemma, for they already know what to do through the Torah (Sichos HaRan 51).

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When the Jewish people do not make Godliness known to the nations of the world, [this creates a spiritual vacuum]. As a result, the nations induce them to follow ideologies contrary to the Torah (Sefer HaMidos, Emunah 11: 11).

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The completion of faith and its "jeweled ornaments" are obtained when the very people who were most distant [from holiness] are drawn close. Thus, it is written, "[For then I will convert the nations to a pure language,] that they may all call upon the name of God . . . (Zephaniah 3:9). Even the idolatrous nations will draw close to the faith of Israel, "and they will serve Him with a common accord" (Likkutei Moharan 1, 62:3).

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It is necessary to reveal to all of humanity, from the greatest to the humblest individual, that there is a Creator. Therefore, the Torah was given in written form. By writing, which is a physical act, the light of this perception ‑ faith in God ‑ is drawn into the physical world. Thus the ultimate purpose of creation is fulfilled: that all people should apprehend God's Oneness (Rabbi Nosson Sternhartz, Likkutei Halachos, Kiddushin 3:1).

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Every Jew must encourage others to return to God and to engage in Divine service, for this is the true basis of civilization (Rabbi Nosson Sternhartz, Likkutei Eitzos HaMeshulosh, Geirim 17).