An excerpt of an essay based upon the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Two thousand years ago, the holy Zohar (I, 117a) foretold this great explosion of knowledge: "In the 600th year of the 6th millenium (approximately 1830) the gates of knowledge above, and the fountains of knowledge below, will be opened, and the world will be prepared to enter the seventh millenium." The "gates of knowledge above" refers to the wisdom of Torah; "the fountains of knowledge below" is secular knowledge.

This passage in the Zohar quite clearly foretells the great leap in knowledge we are witnessing in the present.

We live in a world that is so rapidly changing that what was new yesterday is today obsolete. The benefits brought by modern science are wonderful indeed, and it is easy to lose one's perspective amid the glittering cornucopia of technology. But the Jew is different. The Jew has but one yardstick, one criterion by which to measure everything - how it will affect his service to G-d. To the Jew, the marvels of modern technology cannot be looked upon as something the use of which are divorced from his essence as a Jew; for all the world and its creations therein have but one purpose - to be used in his service to G-d. The products of secular science cannot be regarded indifferently; or worse yet, regarded hostility simply because they are modern.

On the contrary, modern technology not only may be used, but we have no right to ignore the gifts from G-d so lavishly bestowed upon us to spread Torah and Mitzvos. And in our age, we have an additional obligation to utilize all modern advances for the propagation of Torah, and especially Chassidus. For the advances of the last few centuries occurred entirely for one purpose - that hand in hand with the revelation of Chassidus they will prepare our world for the Messianic age.

With the aid of this explosion of knowledge in the secular sciences, the propagation of Chassidus will ensure the fulfillment of the promise that "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L-rd as the waters cover the sea" and "the glory of the L-rd will be revealed, and all flesh together will perceive it, for the mouth of the L-rd has spoken it."