Tenth of Teves: Hidden Divine support

What is the positive aspect of the exile? That it brings the Jewish people in proximity to non-Jews, enabling us to fulfill our mission to influence them, which was far less attainable when we lived separately from them, in our own Land. In the Rebbe’s words:

On[1] the Tenth of Teves “The king of Babylonia besieged Jerusalem.”[2] As we have often discussed, the Hebrew word for “besieged,” samach, may be interpreted as etymologically related to the word for support, as in the phrase “He Who supports the fallen.”[3] This represents the idea that the Tenth of Teves provides [the Jewish people with] assistance, for at its spiritual root, it contains a positive aspect.[4]

The same principle applies to Jewish activity to influence Gentiles to adhere to the Noahide Code. For when “The king of Babylonia besieges Jerusalem” in the literal sense [i.e., the Jewish people are in exile], it is easier to influence him in all areas related to observing the Noahide Code, because it is unnecessary to travel to a distant place before he comes to the Jewish people, because he has come close to Jerusalem. This then enables the fulfillment of the deeper interpretation of the word samach [supporting Jerusalem], for when he approaches Jerusalem, he enables the Jewish people to fulfill that which they were commanded, including the command that they were told by G–d “to compel all the world’s inhabitants to undertake the laws commanded to Noah’s descendants.”[5]

___________________________________________________
[1] Hisva’aduyos 5745, Vol. 2, pp. 1013-1014.
[2] Yechezkel 24:2.
[3] From the Nishmas hymn in the Shabbos liturgy.
[4] See Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 20, p. 518 ff.
[5] Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings, 8:10.