Definition
A Jewish expression meaning "reparation of the world", whose meanings have evolved from rabbinic law to mystical and then modern social commitment.
In many contemporary Judaisms, tikkun olam expresses commitment to justice. This modern sense is rooted in history but does not summarize all its layers or all Jewish priorities.
To be retained
- Distinguish rabbinical, mystical and modern uses
- Linking repair and action
- Do not erase the Jewish context
- Avoid decorative recovery
Origin of the term and context
Tikkun means repair or establishment, and olam world. In the Mishnah, the expression Mipnei tikkun ha-olam concerns the good social order; the lurian kabbal then gives it a cosmic reach.
Why does it matter?
The concept links rite, ethics and collective responsibility. It must be explained without presenting Judaism as a mere universal philosophy detached from Torah, people and history.
- Distinguish rabbinical, mystical and modern uses
- Linking repair and action
- Do not erase the Jewish context
- Avoid decorative recovery
How can it be explored or practised?
- Choosing a sustainable justice response
- Studying a Jewish Source on the Term
- Support an organization led by the persons concerned
- Ritudinal linkage, study and responsibility
Misconceptions and points of caution
- Tikkun olam is not a universal slogan without history.
- Social justice does not sum up all Judaism.
- The kabbalistic symbols must not be isolated from their texts.
Perspectives from different traditions
- Mishnah: measures taken for the good order of the world.
- Lurian Kabbal: cosmic repair of sparks and receptacles.
- Modern Judaism: Ethical and Social Commitment.
To go further
- To Heal the World? — Jonathan Neumann, critical reading
- Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism — Gershom Scholem