In our community there are non-Jewish people who would like to participate in the classes that I teach on Chassidic thought. Is it relevant to teach them?

Aside from the obligation that Jews have to teach the nations of the world the seven Noahide laws, there are sources in the Torah for teaching them Chassidic thought, as well.

In one of his talks, the Lubavitcher Rebbe refers to a letter from the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchov and Rabbi Baruch of Medzhibuz, in which Rabbi Shneur Zalman (the Alter Rebbe) extols the fact that his miraculous release from prison on the 19th of Kislev (Hebrew calendar) had an effect on the non-Jewish Russian ministers. He explains that the effect of the above event, celebrated anew every year, brings about a renewal of the spiritual strengths that were actualized on that day. Furthermore, in addition to renewing our efforts in spreading out the wellsprings of Chassidut wherever we can, there is a need to bring the inner dimensions of Torah to the nations of the world.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman continues to explain in his letter that in addition to the obligation of teaching the seven Noahide laws to the nations, we need to publicize to them the concepts of belief in the unity of G-d, there being no other form of existence in the entire world, as he explains in the book of Tanya (the basic text of Chabad Chassidut) in the section called Sha\’ar haYichud v\’haEmuna (Gateway to the Unity and the Faith), this being preparation for the Redemption.

Also, there are Halachic authorities who posit that non-Jews, while being obligated to believe in one G-d, are allowed to believe that there is existence beyond the existence of G-d. Rabbi Shneur Zalman clarifies for us that this simply means that they are not forbidden to hold such beliefs, but clearly their ability to learn and practice the Noahide laws will significantly improve if they understand and internalize the concept of the unity of G-d, as opposed to acknowledging any other form of existence. Moreover they will be motivated to assist the Jewish people in preparing for the Redemption. In this way, they will perceive G-dliness, and sense how the world is insignificant compared to G-d.

We see that the Lubavitcher Rebbe instructed us to print the book of Tanya in every possible language—English, Arabic, and so on, in order to publicize the inner dimensions of Torah to the nations of the world.