– …You write that the Geulah cannot be complete until “there will no longer be needy people upon the earth” (“Dvarim”, 15:11) and all people will work collectively and with shared responsibility so that there will be no poor and rich.
I do not agree with this opinion. It’s in human nature that the feeling of real happiness comes to a man when he is able to benefit another person. And that is only possible when one is rich and another is poor. Yet it does not contradict your fair claim about the injustice inherent in [income] disparity.
As explained in the teachings of Chassidut, every created being, as long as it behaves the way it was created to behave, not only receives, but also contributes to its environment. In other words, if someone is needy in one aspect, he is wealthy in some other. And the really wonderful aspect of this idea is, that [it is true] even with regards to the Creator and Ruler of the universe Himself, as the Torah tells us, figuratively speaking, that He too is also sometimes a Recipient (‘Mekabel’), and not just a Provider (‘Mashpia”). This is explained in works of Chassidut on the verse, “You yearn for the work of Your own hands” [meaning that the Creator yearns for His creations to make His presence apparent in His world.]
Then there is the Chassidic commentary on the language of our sages, “Our service is needed above” – [HaShem has chosen us to do His commandments and He relies on our work in completing His Creation]…
Source: “Igrot Kodesh”, vol. 13, p. 234, letter 4501. Free translation.
