Improving the World

Sichos HaRan 239.

Translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (Breslov Research Institute), pp. 374

  

The Rebbe said, “G-d’s ways are not like those of man.[1] When a man makes a garment, he values it most when it is brand new. As it then becomes worn and damaged, its value is reduced. But G-d began by creating an imperfect world. It is constantly being improved and becomes more precious to G-d.

In each generation, Tzaddikim enhance G-d's work. At first there were the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Moses our teacher…. The world’s value to G-d is constantly enhanced by this. In the end, the Messiah will come and the task will be completed. Only then will the world be absolutely perfect.”

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[1] Cf. Pesachim 119a; Bava Basra 88b; Sukkah 46b.