Question:

What can we do to bring the Redemption?

Answer:

Some mitzvot that have the power to hasten the redemption are: Love for a fellow, giving charity, studying about the redemption, and faith.

There are a number of mitzvot that have special potency to hasten the Redemption. Among them are:

Love of a fellow: The second Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed on account of baseless hatred among Jews. It follows that the cause of the exile can be undone through baseless love - showing love to your fellows, even when there seems to be no justification for loving them. Furthermore, when Moshiach comes, G-d will unite us all together and bring us back to our land. Thus, we prepare for Moshiach through uniting with our fellows in a spirit of love.

Giving Charity: Our sages taught, "Israel will be redeemed only by virtue of charity." Giving charity is the antithesis of undeserved hatred. Furthermore, our generation is spiritually lower than all the generations that preceded us. The act of giving charity is relatively simple, and doesn't demand great heights of sensitivity or spirituality. G-d desires our simple acts of kindness more than all our spiritual accomplishments.

Studying about the Redemption: Studying Torah sources that explain and describe the Messianic era will help us visualize the redemption and actually begin to live with the spirit of Moshiach. Through intellectual study, these concepts will find their way into our hearts, and from there they will find expression in our day-to-day conduct.

Faith in the Redemption: Our sages teach, "By virtue of faith, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt." Our future redemption will likewise come about by virtue of the fact that our people, disregarding the thick darkness of our present exile, believe firmly in the imminent coming of Moshiach.