In modern times, the concept of "tikkun olam" — translated as “repair,” “betterment,” or “improvement” of the world — is commonly used to refer to the pursuit of social justice. When the term first appears throughout the fourth chapter of tractate Gittin in the Mishnah, it refers to rabbinic edicts likely meant to foster social order, like Hillel’s prozbul and the decree that two witnesses must sign a divorce document. In the ancient Aleinu prayer, the term is used in the context of a future messianic era in which idolatry would be obliterated, and all would recognize God’s omnipotence. In kabbalistic literature, tikkun olam means performing religious acts in order to gather fragments of God’s light and return them to their source.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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Ordinances for the Betterment of the World
MISHNAH
In one of its earliest appearances, the concept of tikkun olam features throughout the fourth chapter of tractate Gittin in the Mishnah in the context of various ordinances. This first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel explains how concern for tikkun olam led to changes in the laws of writs of divorce.
Repairing the World in Aleinu
LITURGY
The Aleinu prayer envisions a world where all humanity recognizes and worships one God. Aleinu, recited at the end of daily Jewish services, calls for the eradication of idolatry and the establishment of divine sovereignty.
Stewards of God's Creation
MIDRASH
The midrash describes God as charging Adam with the task of to preserving and protecting God's creation. Kohelet Rabbah, a midrashic commentary on Ecclesiastes, emphasizes Adam's responsibility to care for the world.
Hillel's Prozbul
MIDRASH
According to the Torah, all loans are to be forgiven during the sabbatical year. Sifrei Devarim, a midrash on Deuteronomy, explains how Hillel the elder noticed that the wealthy were refraining from lending out of concern that their loans would be cancelled, and therefore established the prozbul, a writ that renders loan ineligible for cancelation during the sabbatical year.
Divine Actions and World Repair
KABBALAH
The Zohar teaches that all divine actions, even those that seem repetitive or destructive, ultimately aim to repair the world. This foundational kabbalistic text explores the deeper spiritual meanings behind God's actions and their role in tikkun olam.
Personal Responsibility in Tikkun Olam
CHASIDUT
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov explains that each person should see the world as created for their sake, feeling a personal obligation to improve and pray for it. This prominent Chasidic master emphasizes the individual's role in bettering the world.
Enactments for Social Order
COMMENTARY
Rabban Gamliel the Elder's enactments aimed to improve social order and, according to some, improve women's rights. Dr. Judith Hauptman, in her 20th-century work, analyzes Rabban Gamliel's measures.
Repairing the World on Rosh HaShanah
HALAKHAH
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed describes how the Jewish people have historically committed to God's kingship and the repair of the world, even at the cost of personal suffering. In his contemporary work, Peninei Halakhah, he explores the Jewish approach to Rosh Hashanah, emphasizing communal and spiritual focus over personal concerns.
The Role of Messiah ben Yosef in Tikkun Olam
JEWISH THOUGHT
The concept of Tikkun Olam is intertwined with the eschatological role of Messiah ben Yosef. Kol HaTor, attributed to Rabbi Hillel Rivlin, outlines the specific tasks of Messiah ben Yosef in the process of redemption, including gathering exiles and rebuilding Jerusalem.
Moral Responsibility in Tikkun Olam
COMMENTARY
It is not enough to be personally righteous; one must also encourage and lead others towards goodness. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his 21st-century work, emphasizes the active moral responsibility of individuals to protest and dissent against societal wrongdoing.
Medal Commemorating the Opening of the Dutch Jewish Orphanage in Amsterdam, The Jewish Museum, New York.
Medal Commemorating the Opening of the Dutch Jewish Orphanage in Amsterdam, The Jewish Museum, New York.
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