As the Jewish year comes to a close, it is customary to take stock of the events and lessons of the past year in order to compensate for any deficiencies in our conduct and prepare ourselves for the coming new year.

Even before the year began, the Rebbe Shlita stated that this would be a year in which G‑d’s promise to His people would be fulfilled — that “I will show you wonders.”1 And indeed, the year has been filled with a series of wondrous events which when recounted stagger the imagination — the Gulf War, the mass immigration of Jews to Eretz Yisrael, and the complete collapse of communism, to cite a few.

And paradoxically, it was at this time, at the very climax of this remarkable year, that developments in Crown Heights, the center of the Lubavitch movement, attracted the attention of the entire world.

It is perhaps noteworthy, therefore, that in the course of his talks this past Shabbos (Parshas Ki Seitzei; Aug. 24), the Rebbe chose to speak of concepts relevant to mankind as a whole. His statements touched on the ultimate purpose for any community and on the universal values around which any society should be structured.

We have taken these points, which were originally scattered throughout the course of talks focusing on other subjects, and arranged them as an independent essay. It is our hope that the ideals they champion will help motivate men of all faiths to join hands together to usher the world into its ultimate state of fulfillment — to the era in which “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war any more”2 — with the coming of the ultimate Redemption. May this take place speedily, in our days.

Our Sages teach,3 “Precious is man, for he has been created in the image of G‑d.”4 In his Guide to the Perplexed,5 Maimonides explains that “the image of G‑d” refers to our capacity “to conceive of intellectual ideas and to be conscious of ‘Him who spoke and brought the world into being.’ ” This, the ability to use our minds creatively and to direct our thoughts to G‑d, is the pinnacle of our human potential.

Realizing this potential is dependent on peace of mind. And peace of mind comes when a person feels spiritual purpose and fulfillment, while living in an environment which affords him peace, security, and the opportunity to satisfy his material needs.

Structuring our Society According to G‑d’s Plan

Creating a setting which leads to the realization of these goals should be the purpose of every society. This can be accomplished by adopting a structure based on the seven universal laws commanded to Noah and his descendants,6 i.e., to all humanity. For this is the blueprint which the Almighty gave Moses7 to allow all men to live in harmony.

Implicit in the above blueprint is tzedakah, charity.8 Those who have been granted success must realize that their prosperity is a gift from G‑d which carries with it the responsibility to help others who are not as fortunate.9

Incorporating these principles into our society is a self-reinforcing process, for the experience of the good these values will promote will naturally encourage further progress along these lines. Similarly, in a spiritual sense:10

The Torah has promised that if we observe its [commandments] joyfully.... [G‑d] will remove all the obstacles which hinder us from such observance, such as illness, war and hunger.... Similarly, He will grant us all [types of] good things to reinforce our observance.

Educating our Youth, the Key to Making these Ideals Reality

Actualizing these ideals depends on chinuch, education. Education is, of course, not merely the transfer of knowledge, but more importantly, the communication of values and character traits which parents and grandparents have learnt through their studies and life experience. And this process of communication should flow naturally. Ideally, a child listens to his parents immediately, not because of intimidation, but as a byproduct of their ongoing relationship.

Admittedly, bringing up a child is not an easy process. Sometimes, a parent will see his child conducting himself in a manner of which he does not approve. This is understandable; young people, like adults, are challenged by drives which they do not always overcome. Moreover, they are subject to the pressures of their peer environment. A parent should, however, never despair over his child’s future. When he has invested himself in his child’s upbringing, he can rest assured that his frustration will only be temporary. As time passes, the warm and sensible concern which he has devoted to his children will inevitably bear fruit.

The Ultimate Good

In an ultimate sense, it is in the Era of the Redemption that the above goals will be realized, for Mashiach, the Messiah, will:11

Improve the entire world, [motivating] all the nations to serve G‑d together as it is written,12 “I will make the peoples pure of speech so that they all will call upon the Name of G‑d and serve Him with one purpose.”

And the singleness of purpose shared by all people will be manifest in an era of abundant good:13

There will be neither famine nor war, envy nor competition, for good things will be provided in abundance and all the delights will be as freely available as dust. The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G‑d... as it is written,14 “For the world will be filled with the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the ocean bed.”

Precipitating the Era of the Redemption

We do not, however, have to wait until the future. A foretaste of this is possible in our days, and even more so at present, for we are standing at the threshold of the Era of the Redemption. This is a unique year; the Hebrew letters whose numerical equivalent is associated with this year serve as an acronym for the Hebrew phrase meaning, “This will surely be a year when ‘I will show you wonders.’ ”15 And we have seen wonders — including the miraculous victory in the Persian Gulf, an event associated by the classic text, the Yalkut Shimoni,16 with “the year in which the Messianic king will be revealed.” Similarly, we have seen an ingathering of the exiles of Israel to our Holy Land, a foreglimpse of the ultimate return to the Land in the Messianic Era. And there have been many other miracles which we have all witnessed in both the personal and global sphere.

These are, therefore, appropriate times to incorporate in our lives the heightened spiritual awareness which we will possess in the Era of the Redemption. In this way, we can add fulfillment to our present experience and precipitate the coming of that ultimate era. May this take place in the immediate future.