It's Time for Social Action

Some of you know me in person, some of you only read my blog occasionally. Like other fellow Jews I have a habit of complaining. In some cultures, complaining is seen as b*tching with no purpose. In Judaism - it's cultural. While some may think this is a negative stereotype to label Jews with, I think it's because they don't quite understand the purpose behind it all.

One of the most importants tenements is called Tikun Olam, literally - fixing the world; The imperative to repair the world.

This reflects the Jewish values of Justice (tzedakah), Compassion (khesed) and Peace (shalom). The concept, originally formulated by Rabbi Isaac Luria in sixteenth century Safad, has come to symbolize the quest for social justice, freedom, equality, peace and the restoration of the environment. It is a call to action - to repair the world through social action. It recognizes that each act of kindness, no matter how small, helps to build a new world.

The kabbalah holds that the very creation of the universe by God was unstable, and that the early universe, represented by a pottery vessel, could not hold the holy light of God. In this view, the original form of the universe shattered in shards; the universe that we encounter today is thus literally broken, and in need of repair.

According to this belief, the practice of following the Jewish religious law is so one can repair the tattered shards of creation through their deeds. Therefore, through each fulfillment of a commanded deed (mitzvah) the kabbalists believe, a Jew performs an act of tikkun olam, gradually returning the universe to its form as God originally intended, and making mankind a partner in God's creation.

So yes, we complain.

A lot!

But we do so because the world is never complete or fixed. There's always something we can do to improve it. There's always something we can do to improve the lives of others. There's always something we can do. That's how we were raised. That's what we saw our ancesters do. They complained and then they did something about it.

Tikun Olam is most likely the most important lesson that Judaism teaches kids reaching the age of Mitzvah (Bar Mitzvah for the males at 13, and Bat Mitzvah for the females at 12).

Passover this year falls on Wednesday evening. I will try and write a separate post about Passover. This Passover, Jews around the world will call on fellow Jews to once again engage in Tikun Olam. The American Jewish World Service is calling on everyone to pursue global justice.


Social Action this year concentrates on rallying for Darfur to stop the genocide. On April 30, 2006 join the rally at the National Mall in Washington D.C. between 1:30pm and 4pm.


Please, take a moment of your time to sign the postcard to Save Darfur. Maybe one person cannot do much to save the world, but each one of us holds the responsibility to help others when we can.

The million voices postcard campaign gives your voice a chance to be heard. Sign it and be heard!