March 13 Tip: Embrace "Tikkun Olam," Repairing the World

March 13 Compassionate Living Tip from Interfaith Paths to Peace:

Embrace the concept of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the world”

For progressive Jews, a popular way of framing the need for compassionate action is to speak of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world.  This concept is often associated with a 16^th Century Jewish mystic named Isaac Luria. Luria wrote that at the beginning of time, G!d contracted part of itself into vessels of light in order to create the world. Because G!d’s majesty is so great, the vessels shattered and their shards were scattered throughout the universe. According to Luria and other mystics, we can repair this broken world by performing acts of mercy and kindness (mitzvot). According to the tradition of Tikkun Olam, no one person or generation can complete the task of repairing the world, but all of us  are required to be some part of the repairing process if we are obedient to the will of G!d.

For additional information about Tikkun Olam visit: www.myjewishlearning.com