By Andrés Spokoiny
Few Hebrew idioms are so well known in the American Jewish community as “Tikkun Olam,” “repair of the world.” The term is understood in modern America as the idea that Jews are called upon to make the world more just, peaceful, tolerant, and equal, through acts of charity, kindness, and political action. Tikkun Olam connects with a basic, timeless idea in Jewish theology: that human beings are responsible for completing … [Read more...] about Tikkun Olam:
A Defense and a Critique
Tikkun Olam
Tikkun Olam:
Mitzvah Day: Good, But (Maybe) Not Tikkun Olam
By Ed Frim Springtime is the Jewish season of volunteering. Good Deeds Day, Mitzvah Day and other such events offer many annual opportunities to feed the hungry, visit the sick and elderly, help abused animals, clean the environment and more. For example, JServe is a national effort to engage teens, and attempt to teach them about “fulfilling the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, tzedakah, just and charitable … [Read more...] about Mitzvah Day: Good, But (Maybe) Not Tikkun Olam
Taking Responsibility
By Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D. In my recent piece on eJP, “Our Responsibility,” I called on the Jewish community to further prioritize its commitment to repairing the world. One commenter asked “for a follow-up piece that moves from a call to action to a suggested list of action items ... if you could suggest three, or four, or maybe five actions for each of us to undertake, individually, organizationally, communally, we are much more likely … [Read more...] about Taking Responsibility
From Rwanda, Two Visions of Tikkun Olam
By Lauren Gross and Darren Rabinowitz About an hour outside of Kigali, twenty minutes off the main road, lies an oasis for the orphaned and vulnerable youth of Rwanda called the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). While there, these teens learn English, math, science and other subjects that make up a traditional school curriculum. But there is something else they learn, something unique to the Village - lessons in tikkun olam, repairing the … [Read more...] about From Rwanda, Two Visions of Tikkun Olam
Our Responsibility
By Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, Ph.D. The important reminder that “It’s not about you!” applies to Judaism as much as it does any one person. Judaism is about so much more than itself. I trust that few will argue with the claim that the ‘why?’ of Judaism is the redemption of humanity. This was certainly the message Abraham received when he heard the divine tell him that he would be a blessing to all people (Gen. 3:3). Thankfully, the cause of … [Read more...] about Our Responsibility
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