Rabbi Yaakov Raskin | The world is changing — can we tip the scale?

IF SOMEONE asked you, “What’s the one thing the world needs most today?” what would you say? Peace? Unity? Understanding?

In October 1991, CNN arrived at 770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Brooklyn, to ask that very question to one of the most influential Jewish leaders of our time – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

They asked him, “Rebbe, what is your message to the world about the Messiah?”

The Rebbe could have spoken about prophecy, theology, or political change. But instead, his response was simple and clear:

“It was already printed in all the newspapers that Moshiach (the Messiah) is ready to come. It is only on our part to increase in acts of goodness and kindness.”

A VISION FOR A PERFECTED WORLD

For those unfamiliar with the concept, Moshiach is the Jewish belief in a future era of peace, justice, and divine clarity. The Bible describes a time when war will cease, hunger will end, and the world will be filled with knowledge, as “the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). This isn’t just a religious idea – it’s a vision for a perfected world, one that humanity can help create through acts of goodness.

That was over 30 years ago. Since then, the world has faced wars, famine, and division. But something else has also happened – humanity has stepped up in kindness like never before.

It’s easy to feel like the world is only getting darker, but when you take a step back, the numbers tell a different story. According to global giving reports from the United Nations, World Bank, and the Charities Aid Foundation, we are living in the most generous era in human history. Over one billion people volunteer their time every year – helping in hospitals, shelters, disaster zones, and community centres ( United Nations Volunteers Report, 2022). Charitable giving has reached historic levels, with US$400–US$500 billion donated annually to causes that support those in need ( Harvard Kennedy School, Global Philanthropy Report). The World Giving Index found that in 2021 alone, three billion people helped a stranger. That’s nearly half the world’s population, showing that even in difficult times, kindness prevails (CAF World Giving Index, 2022). Humanitarian aid has doubled every decade since 1990, with more people receiving food, shelter, and medical relief than ever before (UNOCHA Humanitarian Aid Trends, 2021).

And it’s not just the numbers –it’s the stories. Right now, as you read this, volunteers in Sudan are risking their lives to feed families trapped in war zones. In the Mediterranean, rescue workers are saving migrants stranded at sea. In Jamaica, a record number of people joined the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, raising over J$128 million for hospitals and those in need. Just this week, Peace Day encouraged thousands of students across Jamaica to embrace kindness as a way of life.

If kindness is what brings Moshiach – then we’ve never been closer.

This idea isn’t new. Over 2,400 years ago, a moment in Jewish history reinforced the power of giving and unity. It was during the Persian Empire, when the Jewish people faced annihilation at the hands of a wicked ruler named Haman. Through the courage of Queen Esther, the Jewish people were saved. But instead of just celebrating their survival, they established a holiday called Purim, dedicated to spreading joy – not just for themselves, but for everyone around them.

To this day, Jews around the world mark Purim with three special traditions. They give food to friends to increase unity, they hold a festive meal because true celebration should be shared, and they give gifts to the poor because the highest form of happiness comes from lifting someone else up. Maimonides, one of the greatest Jewish philosophers, writes that of all the Purim traditions, helping the needy takes priority over everything else – even more than the holiday meal or gift-giving. “There is no greater and more beautiful joy than bringing joy to the hearts of the poor. This is what makes a person truly like the Divine.” (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Purim 2:17).

There’s a story that captures this idea perfectly. A man once had a dream that at the very edge of town, someone was waiting to give him a priceless diamond. With urgency, he made the journey and found the person from his dream. To his shock, the man reached into his pocket, pulled out a massive, flawless gem, and handed it over – without hesitation. The traveller stared in disbelief.

“You’re just giving this away? Just like that?”

The man shrugged. “If you see value in it, take it.”

But the traveller didn’t take the diamond. Because suddenly, he realised something. He no longer wanted the gem. He wanted to know what kind of person could give something so valuable away so easily.

Because the greatest thing we can give isn’t our money or our possessions – it’s ourselves.

The Rebbe’s words still stand:

“Moshiach is ready to come – it’s on us to increase in acts of goodness and kindness.”

The world is already moving in that direction. But we’re not there yet. So I ask you: What’s your way? A smile to a stranger? A meal for someone hungry? A kind word to someone struggling?

Because if the world has already come this far in 30 years – imagine what it could look like if we all did just a little more.

Moshiach is waiting. It’s our move.

Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, Rabbi of Jamaica and co-director of Chabad Jamaica, serves the local and visiting Jewish community and beyond. He co-directs the ARK Center, located on the Hip Strip in Montego Bay, promoting daily charity through ARK Boxes to encourage acts of kindness for all. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.