Jan 7, 2025 / Tevet 7, 5785
A call to action for all
There is a profound and powerful message in the Jewish tradition: Tikun Olam.
Often the word Tikun (תיקון) is translated as repairing or restoring but in the Torah and Mishna it has different meanings such as improving, preparing, setting up or "doing something". In Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), the word refers to; returning the sparks of G-divine light to their source, through ritual performance.
The word Olam (עולם) means, among other things, eternal, survival but also world.
So Tikun Olam in its entirety means doing something that repairs damage to the world, improves it and brings it closer to the harmony for which it was originally created.
The world is inherently good
Tikun Olam reminds us that we do not have to see the world as broken or lost. On the contrary, the world is essentially good even. As it says in Bereshit (Genesis);
וירא אלהים את-כל-אשר עשה והנה-טוב מאד ויהי-ערב ויהי-בקר יום השי
And G-d saw everything that was made and found it very good. And it became evening and it became morning, the sixth day.
Even though darkness seems to dominate around us, the world is not lost. Everything we see and experience, positive as well as negative, carries a potential for a fair and just society. However, it is up to us, the people, to actively improve and restore this world so that it can reach its full potential. This is not an impossible task, but a constant call to action for everyone - every day, in every moment.
Room for improvement
Life as we know it seems to be just something ordinary. As if the world is a work of art without an artist! But G-d is hidden and we can find Him. Instead of dreaming away in our own fantasy of selfishness and vice, G-d has given us the freedom and space to develop, make good choices and continue His work. HaShem made the world and has given us the responsibility to contribute to its upkeep. This means we have the power - and the duty - to change the world and everything in life for the better. Whether we take big steps or small ones, every action counts.
The best part is that it is not limited to a select group of people. It is a call for everyone! Whether you are a child or an adult, a student or an entrepreneur, an artist or an activist, you have the power to make an impact. Maybe you are someone who works daily for the good of others, or maybe you simply try to give your best, even if it sometimes feels like a struggle.
Tikun Olam is not reserved for heroes or leaders, but is a mission for all of us. You, me, and everyone who turns to G-d with an open heart and longs for an honest and just life can contribute to the restoration of the world.
The Jewish People with their 613 mitzvot and the rest of the world with the Noahite commandments. Each with its own task and its own unique connection to HaShem.
So, what can we do to make the world a better place? It starts with ourselves, with the choices we make in our daily lives and with believing in the one true G-d.
Written by Sarah Bakker
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Sources used:
www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3700275/jewish/What-Is-Tikkun-Olam.htm#1_What
www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tikkun-olam-repairing-the-world
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikkun_olam
Book: Jewish Siddur
