The Burgher and Us

In Rabbi Nachman's story, the Burgher and the Pauper (one of my favorites!), we learn of a rich businessman, known as a burgher, who lives upstairs from a pauper.  The pauper is poor in spirit as well as in money, but has a very kind, generous wife. The wife is one day kidnapped by a general, and is under great pressure to submit to his desires. The burgher, recklessly, goes to the general's palace, bursts in, and rescues the pauper's wife. Both had been childless, but now are rewarded with a son for the burgher, and an incredibly beautiful daughter for the pauper. She is so beautiful, talented and kind, that nobles want to make matches with her. Since it would not be fitting for them to marry the daughter of a pauper, they use their connections to raise his station, until he becomes emperor of the world! But his wife, now the Empress, had promised the daughter's hand in marriage to the son of the burgher! The Emperor will not hear of it, and begins to persecute both the burgher and his son. It's a very long story, but the son of the burgher is saved from death by the efforts of the Empress, and winds up on a desert island. The beautiful princess, urged on by the Empress, refuses to marry anyone but the now lost son of the burgher. After many trials and tribulations, and much anger and frustration on the part of the young man, the princess (disguised as a man), and the Emperor (now deposed) wind up on the same island. Eventually, all are reconciled. The Emperor is forgiven,. and the couple marry, ruling the world together.
This story is understood as relating to the Mashiach (Messiah), and the role of Jews and non-Jews in this drama. The word "burgher" in Yiddish has a double meaning. It means "business man", but it also m,ans "Mountains". Abraham is described as "going up into the mountain" to pray and offer sacrifice. The Talmud refers to Abraham as "the Mountain". When Lot is rescued from Sodom, he is told to flee into the mountain. The rabbis interpret this to mean "in the merit of Abraham" who is called "Mountain". Through Lot's incestual relations with his daughters, the nations of Ammon and Moab are born, two of the worst enemies of the Children of Israel. What?!?! Abraham's merit was used for this?!?! But wait. From Moab comes Ruth, the ancestress of King David, and of the future Mashiach!
The story of the Burgher and the Pauper is about the interrelationship of Jews and Gentiles. The Pauper is mean and cruel, symbolizing the unspeakable horrors of millenia of persecution. But his wife is kind and good. There are, in every nation, in every culture, great and noble traits. These are destined to unite with Jewish culture, bringing about a new renaissance of mankind. But the Messianic promise can only be fulfilled when there is reconciliation; a recognition on the part of the Nations of the unique mission of Israel, and on the part of the Jews, to welcome those aspects of world culture, those sparks of good that are in all nations and people, and to welcome them into G-d's covenant.
There is a verse in Psalms "I found David My servant..." The rabbis ask "where did He find him? In Sodom". The "sparks" are lying, as yet , concealed, waiting to be elevated and brought back to the Source of all.