Improving the World

Question

I have met various jews after the time that I begin to embrace 7 noahide laws. When I become friendly with them they start to give me some life advices and try to change me. I have found many jewish articles that say about make this world a better place. Religious jews and secular jews share this kind of tendency. It seems that jews are so obssessed about changing this world. Why are jews so desperately improve the world?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    What you are describing is something that is referred to as Tikkun Olam. Even in the secular world the name Tikkun Olam is prevalent.

    Interestingly enough the term Tikkun Olam does not appear in the Scriptures or in the Talmud. It does appear, however, in various commentaries such as Rabbi Moshe Nachmanides, Leviticus 25:5, Tiferet Yisrael on Mishna Gittin 5:1, Rashi on Tractate Bava Metzia 34:2, the Maharal and Sifrei Chassidut. However, the concept of Tikkun Olam that appears in the classic sources is not really what the world today is referring to. They seem to imagine that “Tikkun Olam” means to ensure that there are no starving children in Africa. Whilst it is true that we must endeavor to try to eradicate the poverty and the sadness in the world it is not going to be done just by going to Africa, Tikkun Olam means working on ourselves to refine our personalities and characters and becoming the best people that we can be. That means that Tikkun Olam is a Jewish concept that should be used to help each person within the Jewish Nation to become closer to God and to themselves.

    For a basic understanding of the subject I suggest that you read the introduction to Horeb by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. Another book that deals with the concept is Masterplan by Rabbi Aryeh Carmell. For a more Kabbalistic perspective I suggest Derech Hashem by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team