TIKKUN OLAM

'''Tikkun olam''' (Hebrew: 'תיקון עולם') is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world" or "perfecting the world." ''Tikkun olam'' is an important concept in Judaism.

Contents

In the Talmud

In Jewish prayer

In Kabbalah

In modern Judaism

References

Further reading

In the Talmud

The expression ''tikkun olam'' is used in the Mishnah in the phrase ''mip'nei tikkun olam'' ("for the sake of ''tikkun olam''") to indicate that a practice should be followed not because it is required by Biblical law, but because it helps avoid negative social consequences. One example is in Gittin 4:2:

At first a person used to convene a Court in another place and cancel it. Rabban Gamliel the Elder enacted in the public interest (''mip'nei tikkun olam'') that they should not do so. At first a person used to change his name and her name, the name of his city and the name of her city, and Rabban Gamliel the Elder enacted in the public interest (''mip'nei tikkun olam'') that he should write, "The man so-and-so and every name that he has," "The woman so-and-so and every name that she has."^[1]

In Jewish prayer

The phrase ''tikkun olam'' is included in the ''Aleinu'', a Jewish prayer that is traditionally recited three times daily. The ''Aleinu'' praises God for allowing the Jewish people to serve God, and expresses hope that the whole world one day will recognize God and abandon idolatry. The phrase ''tikkun olam'' is used in the longer expression ''l'takken olam b'malkhut Shaddai'', "to perfect the world under God's sovereignty." In other words, when all people of the world abandon false gods and recognize God, the world will have been perfected.

In Kabbalah

According to the Jewish mystical system known as Lurianic Kabbalah, the creation of the universe by God was unstable, and the early universe, represented figuratively by a glass or pottery vessel, could not contain the holy light of God and shattered into shards. Consequently, according to the Kabbalists, the universe that we know is literally broken and in need of repair. According to this belief, by following ''halakha'' (Jewish religious law) and performing ''mitzvot'' (fulfilling commandments or performing good deeds) people help to repair the broken shards of the universe through their deeds. Therefore, the Kabbalists teach, through her or his actions each person can participate in ''tikkun olam'', literally repairing the universe, and humanity is a partner in God's creation.

In modern Judaism

Some Jews, particularly among the Orthodox, believe that performing ''mitzvot'' is a means of ''tikkun olam'', helping to perfect the world, and that the performance of more ''mitzvot'' will hasten the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic Age.
Among many non-Orthodox Jews, the phrase ''tikkun olam'' has taken on political, as well as religious, significance. It is frequently used as a synonym for social justice, often with the implication that Jews should work toward the development of a fair and equal society with the same zeal with which their ancestors may have followed Jewish religious law. ''Tikkun'' magazine,^[2] edited by Rabbi Michael Lerner, is an example that reflects this worldview.
Many synagogues have a Tzedakah program which allows members to donate money. The synagogues then may give the money to various charities or organizations. This is considered a form of ''tikkun olam'' to many.

References

1. Gittin 4:2, in English translation, and in the original Aramaic. Note: The parenthetical phrase does not appear in the translation, but has been inserted here to illustrate the use of the phrase ''tikkun olam''.
2. "Tikkun {tē-kün} to heal, repair, and transform the world" Tikkun.org.

Further reading

★ ''Tikkun ha-Olam'': The Restoration of the World Sanford L. Drob

★ The Rise Of ''Tikkun Olam'' Paganism Steven Plaut

★ The History of "Tikkun Olam" Jill Jacobs