Q&A: Agency
Agency
Question
Is there a commandment / rationale for what the Chabad people do everywhere, getting people to put on tefillin, etc.? (And if so, is it worthwhile even if, from the standpoint of the emissary himself, it causes him to decline in fear of Heaven and the like?)
Answer
Putting tefillin on someone in that way has no value at all if the person putting them on does not believe in the Holy One, blessed be He, and/or in the giving of the Torah as binding. But if he does believe, then it does have value. I don’t know why you assume the emissary declines because of it. In short, I don’t see any added value in matters of propaganda and outreach. Think for yourself whether, in your opinion, there is value in it.
Discussion on Answer
There is an obligation to cause people to fulfill their obligations.
Even though the concept of “mutual responsibility” (“all of Israel are responsible for one another”) does not apply to gentiles?
You mean responsibility, not sweetness. Yes, this is responsibility toward the Holy One, blessed be He, not toward the gentile—that His commandments should be fulfilled. Just as one may not cause a gentile to stumble into a transgression, even though interpersonal obligations do not apply toward him in that sense. Simply put, this is an obligation toward the Holy One, blessed be He, that transgressions not be committed in His world. If so, then all the more so one should be concerned that the commandments be fulfilled.
I once heard a talk from someone saying that there is an obligation to bring those who are far away closer (to religion). Is that correct? And if so, is there also a commandment to teach gentiles the seven Noahide commandments?