The Rebbe said, “God’s ways are not like those of man.341Cf. Pesachim 119a; Bava Batra 88b; Sukkah 46b. When a man makes a garment, he values it most when it is brand-new. As it becomes worn and damaged, its value is reduced.
“But God began by creating an imperfect world. As it is constantly being improved, it becomes more precious to God. In each generation, tzaddikim enhance God’s work. At first, there were the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and Moses …
“The world’s value to God is constantly enhanced by this. In the end, the Mashiach will come and the task will be completed. Then Tikkun HaOlam (the rectification of the world) will be complete.”
אָמַר: שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם. כִּי הָאָדָם, כְּשֶׁעוֹשֶׂה לְעַצְמוֹ מַלְבּוּשׁ, אֲזַי בִּתְחִלָּה כְּשֶׁהוּא חָדָשׁ חָשׁוּב אֶצְלוֹ בְּיוֹתֵר. וְאַחַר כָּךְ כָּל מַה שֶּׁמַּזְקִין אֶצְלוֹ הַמַּלְבּוּשׁ נִתְקַלְקֵל בְּכָל פַּעַם יוֹתֵר וְנִתְמַעֵט חֲשִׁיבוּתוֹ בְּכָל פַּעַם כְּשֶׁמַּזְקִין.
The Rebbe said, “God’s ways are not like those of man.341Cf. Pesachim 119a; Bava Batra 88b; Sukkah 46b. When a man makes a garment, he values it most when it is brand-new. As it becomes worn and damaged, its value is reduced.
אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בָּרָא אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וּבִתְחִלָּה הָיָה הָעוֹלָם מְקֻלְקָל. וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּכָל פַּעַם נִתְתַּקֵּן הָעוֹלָם וְנֶחֱשָׁב הָעוֹלָם אֶצְלוֹ יוֹתֵר. כִּי אַחַר כָּךְ בָּא אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, ע"ה וְכוּ'.
“But God began by creating an imperfect world. As it is constantly being improved, it becomes more precious to God. In each generation, tzaddikim enhance God’s work. At first, there were the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and Moses …
וְכֵן בְּכָל פַּעַם בָּאִים צַדִּיקִים וּמְתַקְּנִים בְּכָל פַּעַם אֶת הָעוֹלָם יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר. וְנֶחֱשָׁב בְּכָל פַּעַם אֶצְלוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ הָעוֹלָם בְּיוֹתֵר. וְאַחַר כָּךְ בַּסּוֹף יָבוֹא מָשִׁיחַ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ וְאָז יִהְיֶה גְּמַר תִּקּוּן הָעוֹלָם.
“The world’s value to God is constantly enhanced by this. In the end, the Mashiach will come and the task will be completed. Then Tikkun HaOlam (the rectification of the world) will be complete.”