Below are excerpts from two opposing viewpoints.
Point
Counter ► oint
Tikkun Olam • •
Fallacy, Delusion And Myth
I
Tikkun Olam:
Ethical Mitzvot Are Mitzvot
W
t is so very difficult to sit silently
munity, as they substitute the false
ith the beginning of summer signing a petition, those who engage
by while Jews, and now the general
panacea of something they call tik-
comes a time of reflection.
in such activities are taught that their
religious and secular communi-
kun olam for the authenticity of true
School's out and summer
actions are cosmically important and
ties, completely misuse and distort the
Judaism.
break is starting, so now is a time when
that setting the world right is a Jewish
term tikkun olam— certainly
The term and concept tik-
we look back at the past
imperative.
not intentionally nor out of
kun olam appears nowhere
year. And this past year was
Critics fairly point out
any malice, but rather out
in the Torah itself, but first
difficult. It included major
that the tikkun of the kab-
of ignorance in the pursuit
appears only in the Mishnah
natural disasters (tornadoes
balists meant fulfilling
of virtuous goals and prin-
and Talmud in the context
in Oklahoma, Hurricane
mitzvot (commandments),
ciples, which may be appli-
of the courts and halachic
Sandy) and human tragedy
many of them ritual. To such
cable to general society and
(legal) regulations involving
(Boston Marathon bombing,
kabbalists, every mitzvah
civilization but which have
disputes and legal rights.
the shooting at Sandy Hook
performed helps to repair
tragically become a poor
Subsequently, in Kabbalah
Elementary). We sense that
creation. That is why we have
substitute for authentic reli-
the term was used to refer
our world is in need of repair.
been accustomed to finding
gious observance.
to the upper worlds or to the
And those of us who think of
Chabbadniks on the street
Rabbi A shira
This repair rhetoric has
repair of the individual soul
ourselves as global citizens, as
recruiting Jewish men to
Konigs burg
become an obsession, a
damaged by the sin of vio-
well as Jews, feel called to do
wear
tefillin or distributing
JNS.o rg
catch-all credo. Everything
lating or neglecting Jewish
something to counteract this
Shabbat candles to women.
today is tikkun olam.
law. Following that, the only
chaos. Working to fix our broken world,
To focus only on social concerns, while
Enough with the tikkun olam. It is a
mention of tikkun olam in prayer is in
in Jewish terms, is called tikkun olam.
leaving ritual commandments unful-
senseless and meaningless misconcep-
the Aleinu prayer recited at the conclu-
The term tikkun olam comes from rab- filled, however, can feel, to some, as a
tion; its true meaning is nothing like it
sion of every service, but even in that
binic literature. The Mishnah seems to
betrayal of the intent of the kabbalistic
is commonly used and purported to be. context it means either that God, not
use tikkun olam as a legislative principle
concept of tikkun.
It is not at all a centuries-old tradi-
man, will ultimately repair the world,
correcting a flaw in the legal system that,
While I certainly uphold the religious
tion, it is not a call to action, and it
or, as others interpret, it does not
if uncorrected, could lead to an injustice.
importance of fulfilling ritual command-
is not a com-
mean repair of the
The idea of tikkun is also found in the
ments, it seems far too simplistic to
mandment. And
world at all but rather
mystical traditions. According to Lurianic criticize proponents of tikkun olam for
to be clear, tik-
is a prayer for the
Kabbalah, there was a problem with
not engaging enough in mitzvot. For one
kun olam does
uprooting of idolatry,
the creation process and thus the world
thing: Even if tikkun olam itself isn't one
not even mean
the rebuilding of the
requires tikkun (repair). This worldview
of the 613 commandments, ethical mitz-
repairing the
Temple and establish-
acknowledges that creation is imperfect.
vot are mitzvot. Perhaps there is no cat-
world in the
ing God's kingdom
The innovation of the kabbalists was to
egorical imperative to repair the world,
sense of social
on Earth, through
suggest that the actions of humans can
but there are clear Jewish imperatives to
justice. Nor in
the observance of the
impact the Divine.
feed the hungry, care for the needy and
traditional sourc-
commandments and
In our times, these two ideas are com-
save lives.
es is tikkun olam
not through any sepa-
bined into the modern concept of tikkun
Furthermore, engaging in social jus-
in any way even
rate social imperative.
olam. Literally translated as "repairing
tice activities and fulfilling ritual mitzvot
a direct human
For Jews who truly
the world:' the term has been applied
are not mutually exclusive. For many
imperative or
do want to engage in
pretty much any time we act to impact
Jews, tikkun olam is the entry point into
action, but rather
tikkun olam, the only
the world beyond ourselves. It's been
learning more about their heritage and
one that is left in
honest and authentic
used to describe both volunteering and
taking on other obligations. For Jewish
God's hands.
Jewish way to do that
advocacy. From feeding the hungry to
Americans who have a better sense of
We cannot,
is to encourage obser-
universal values than Jewish ones,
All illustration of Jews praying in
and are not
vance of the Torah
connecting their general impulse
synagogue on Yom Kippur
instructed to,
across the entire spec-
to make a difference in the world
save the world,
trum of the Jewish
to the relevant Jewish concepts
or even to repair it. Judaism teaches no community. That, in fact, is actually
can bring them closer to our tra-
such thing. Rather, we are instructed to what our responsibility is, nothing
dition.
conduct ourselves properly, to observe
more and nothing less, and the rest is
If a young professional chooses
the mitzvos, the Commandments, and
up to God — if we do our part, so will
to spend her time after work
in that way to contribute to society
God. ❑
helping cheer up patients in the
and civilization both by example and
hospital, or a college student
through practice and action.
Grand Rabbi Y. A. Korff, the Zvhil-Mezbuz
chooses to spend his summer
In the aftermath of human tragedy, such as
For Jews, those mitzvos include not
Rebbe of Boston, is chaplain of the city of
vacation volunteering for a grass-
the Boston Marathon bombing, those of us
simply socially or politically correct
Boston. This column first appeared in the
roots peace movement, we should
who think of ourselves as global citizens, as
precepts such as giving charity and
Jewish Advocate of Boston.
applaud their commitment rather
well as Jews, should counteract the chaos.
engaging in political action, but also
than scrutinize their levels of
observance of the Sabbath, dietary
ritual observance as if helping
restrictions (kashrus), daily prayer
others is no mitzvah at all. ❑
Whose view of tikkun olam do you support?
and other commandments that seem
Call the Soap Box at (248) 351-5146, state
to have fallen out of favor and are
Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg is associate direc-
where you live and start talking, or drop a
ignored, if not openly denigrated and
tor of rabbinic services at the (Conservative)
line to letters@thejewishnews.com .
violated, in some segments of the com-
Rabbinical Assembly in New York City.
acapb:x
June 20 • 2013
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