The True Purpose of Tikun Olam
So many Jews today consider Tikun Olam (i.e. social justice) to be a religion onto itself. We must never forget that although we can play a pivotal role in fixing the world, ultimately it is still G-d’s world.
This past Shabbat I attended a beautiful Seudat Shlisheet on my block in Bergenfield, NJ. All the neighbors on my street, Frederick Place, got together for a communal meal at Corey and Sorah Tarzick’s backyard. During the course of the meal one of my neighbors told me the most incredible Torah thought I had ever heard.
Robert Katz, whose doorway I stare at every time I walk out my front door, explained “So many Jews today are concerned with Tikun Olam. However, many people tend to neglect the latter part of the phrase- LeTakein Olam BEMALCHUS SHAKKAI”. Tikun Olam must be done for Hashem’s sake. I started to think about these simple words that we say three times a day in Aleinu. I had never noticed them before but those four words are a mission statement for every Jew in the world.
Our job in this world is to fix the world. We can first accomplish this by fixing ourselves. If we are kind to one another and love Hashem we have fulfilled LeTakein Olam BeMalchus Shakkai. If we attend a Darfur Rally and cry out for others’ suffering and pain, we have fulfilled LeTakein Olam BeMalchus Shakkai. If we get up early to daven or stay up a little later than usual to learn a bit more Torah, we have fulfilled LeTakein Olam BeMalchus Shakkai.
i sent this story to a few of my friends. the jewish people in this city should read and study it. it is wonderful narrative.
Posted by Herschel Lerman on 05/18 at 07:55 PMI agree with Rabbi Berg that Tikkun Olam must be done for a higher purpose, and cannot replace a religious lifestyle. But at the same time I think that challanges us as religious Jews to organize programs and opportunities to help the world, and not just our immediate community but to look beyond ourselves and make an impact on the broader world community. This is a tremendous responsibility and it is not one we can take lightly.
Posted by Shlomit Cohen on 08/24 at 09:27 PM
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