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The Power of One
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What do a computer scientist, a doctor and a physicist have in common? In general, nothing. In the usual scheme of things, each one works in his or her own field, researching, making discoveries and developing new technology. But rarely do they get together to share findings or discuss how discoveries in one field can enhance the other.
To open up more avenues of research and exploration, there is one group, Intellectual Ventures, that brings together experts, inventors and geniuses from wildly diverse fields to discuss their latest research. These meetings have been very fruitful, yielding hundreds of patents in the fields of computers, biotechnology, electronics and medical equipment. Individual experts are discovering solutions to problems that would never have occurred to them working in isolation.
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If this is true in the physical sciences, how much more so in the spiritual dimension, where every phenomenon “cooks” and is developed before it reaches our physical world. We connect to the spiritual realms through Torah and mitzvot. Each of us in our own way is dedicated to making a spiritual “discovery” or revolution, to find new ways to bring spiritual energies to earth. But this can only be accomplished through collaboration with others. The age-old method of Torah study is in pairs, where each individual sharpens wits with a study partner and thus both grow in knowledge. In Ethics of Our Fathers (chapter 6), our sages list 48 qualities through which Torah is acquired. Many of them involve interpersonal relationships, including “participating in the burden of one's fellow, judging him to the side of merit, correcting him, bringing him to a peaceful resolution [of his disputes], deliberation in study, asking and answering, listening and illuminating.”
When it comes to our overarching goal of bringing Moshiach, the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged us to get together in groups to brainstorm ways and means to bring Moshiach. He assured us that if just two or three determined people would get together and share ideas, the Redemption would certainly come.
In the past, we would always rely on the righteous to pray for us, study for us, and yes, even bring Moshiach for us. We always relied on their saintliness, on their special spiritual powers, to lead us through any physical or spiritual challenge. The concept that it is up to us, each and every individual, to do whatever we can to bring Moshiach is an innovation of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Yes, the righteous people of the past did all they could to bring Moshiach. But despite all that, the Redemption has not yet come. We need to do our part.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe did not just make an announcement. He gave us the spiritual tools we need to complete this task. Each of us is gifted by G-d with infinite spiritual strengths. If we would just unite and contribute our part, the Redemption would certainly be here immediately.
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