Tikkun Olam Community, Spirituality, and YOU At Etz Chaim, we are dedicated to repairing the world. Many Jews who like to think of ourselves as environmentalists often cite Tikkun Olam, or the “fixing of the world” as the Jewish impetus for being … Tikkun olam is the process of righting wrongs and bringing the world to its full potential. Required fields are marked *, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Just as it is possible to draw a line directly from the biblical injunction “Justice, justice shall you pursue”(Deut. Your email address will not be published. heal the the world) urges us to behave and act in a manner that benefits our surroundings, and that is the mission that David Abraham Walk undertook to … You can learn more and join their efforts here. Connecting with that worthy group, a rabbinic colleague recently shared that her congregation has committed to fund 300 “Forest Gardens” in Senegal. One of the the experiences that this group provides is about the environment and sustainability. F Food Drive: Coordinate a food drive so that WJC’s contributions to the Food Pantry are Values; History; Our Team; Caterer; FAQ’s; Contact; Join. It is first mentioned in the Mishna, part of the Talmud (Oral Torah), in the context of fixing the world from a … Tikkun Olam: Trees and the Environment. We look at the world around us and see that it is deeply in need of repair, and we are still able to hear the ancient calling that tells us that we must take responsibility for it ourselves, that each of us must do our own part in our own time. When did Hitler Decide to Murder all Jews? Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Why should we care that humans have set in motion the sixth mass extinction of species in earth’s history and a degree of climate change that risks our civilization? Today, Tikkun Olam is identified with working for social justice, peace, freedom, equality, and conservation of the environment. Tikkun Olam was for centuries perceived as a social obligation within the community, giving charity, visiting the sick and disabled, caring for orphans and widows. Feb 8, 2017 - Explore Liz M.'s board "Tikkun Olam" on Pinterest. The Jewish concept of tikkun olam (lit. Caring for the environment is an important theme in the Jewish tradition. To Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. - Be MLK Jr. Time Present and Time Past: CIA Coup in Iran, An Artist for the Ages: John Outterbridge (1933-2020), Re-Awakening Our Abrahamic Earth Based Wisdom. Values: Guided by the Jewish values below, we are inspired and called to protect our planet and the people who live on it: Bal Tashchit– The command to not destroy nature . Caring about the environment is a matter of the heart, about what we truly value, what is sacred to us. Judaism teaches that humans are stewards of the earth, that each individual has a responsibility to leave the world a better place for future generations. Jodie Cohen, in a new book called ‘Tikkun Olam’, or heal the world, shows how citizens of the start-up nation are taking aim at the world’s latest pandemic. Our world is threatened by the ravages of deforestation. Working in the pursuit of tzedek (justice) and tikkun olam (repair of the world), we focus on interfaith work to support social justice in the Philadelphia area and in Israel/Palestine. - The Prophetic Jewish, Interfaith & Secular Voice to Heal and Transform the World, The Prophetic Jewish, Interfaith & Secular Voice to Heal and Transform the World. In over a century, they have planted 250 million trees and helped to revitalize Israel through reforestation, research, land and water management, community building, education, and accessibility. Many organizations set out to plant trees, but I’m told that only some do so in a responsible way that restores eco-systems and helps local people. A successful environmentalism must also consciously connect with and draw on the deepest wells of spirituality in our culture, our awe and wonder at the universe, and our ability to care for each other. The holiday of Tu Bishvat, which means the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shvat and is the date of celebration, honors nature and is often called "the birthday of the trees." We’ve heard the expression, ... the fates of birds and other winged creatures are often early warning signs of larger damage to the environment. The Redwood Rabbis were an inspiring example of a group of Jews who organized to courageously protest the clearcutting of ancient Redwood trees. In Jewish law (halakhah), this was expanded to a  general principle known as Bal Taschit, do not wantonly destroy anything. “Planting a tree” for a happy occasion has become almost a Jewish stereotype, but it really is a huge mitzvah. For many, tikkun olam extends to the world of investing. Tikkun olam literally means to fix the world, ... E Environmental Efforts: Get your school, synagogue or youth group involved in a project to raise awareness in the 3 R's–Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. About Us. The phrase is found in the Mishnah, a body of classical rabbinic teachings. “Silence,” goes the Talmudic edict, “is consent.” 13 And it is certainly vital that we ensure the sustainability of life upon this magnificent stage of creation. Yes. The Tikkun Olam Committee leads in “greening” Beth Sholom. Visit their site to learn more and to plant trees. The Tikkun Olam Chavurah is a Philadelphia-based spiritual and political community grounded in Jewish values. When we care for God's earth, we are, first, continuing Adam's work of guarding and keeping the creation, and, second, we are undoing and repairing some of the damage that fallen man has already inflicted upon it. We foster Jewish heritage by implementing new ways of improving people’s lives and the world. Causes motivating the various groups included such diverse interests as development in the … Their example can inspire us to plant and protect trees in our own communities. Kesher Israel’s Tikun Olam is dedicated to finding Jewish ways in which to improve the World. In these articles, scientists, activists, spiritual teachers, and others cover the territory. Even more, we have to preserve, protect, plant. Join and support environmental groups like the Sierra Club, National Forest Foundation and The Nature Conservancy to preserve trees and wilderness, because they preserve us! The nature of the concept of tikkun olam assumes the existence of free will and also the ability to act according to one’s free will in order to make changes in the world. This outreach is known as Tikkun Olam, and it brings young people and professionals together to work towards sustainability and environmental stewardship in the community. It has gained a new and physical dimension by redefining “Repairing the World” in the spirit of environmental ethics. Tikkun means to repair or improve. Bal Taschit and Tikkun Olam by N Bal Taschit is a commandment from Torah: "When in your war against a city you have to beseige it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy (bal taschit) the trees, laying the ax against them. Tikkun holds that an environmentalism that doesn't explicitly challenge the ethos of materialism and selfishness generated by global capitalism, which leads people to consume recklessly and without regard to the consequences for the planet, will fail. Wings. Environmental Conservation: Environmental preservation is an integral part of Jewish tradition. In Jewish teachings, any activity that improves the world, bringing it closer to the harmonious state for which it was created is considered Tikkun Olam.Tikkun Olam implies that while the world is innately good, its Creator purposely left room for us to improve upon His work.. Featured Image: Redwood Trees, Big Basin, California, Watch a video on how to support the world’s rainforests, or return to the Gateway of Trees, Your email address will not be published. The concept of Tikkun Olam was created by Rabbi Isaac Luria in the city of Safed during the sixteenth century. Tikkun olam means that we can repair the world and that we should do so. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Tikkun olam fits perfectly within the context of caring for the environment. In Hebrew, the phrase tikkun olam means “repair of the world.” In contemporary Judaism, the concept means that, not only are Jews responsible for the welfare of their own communities, but they are also responsible for the welfare of the world. It is often used when discussing issues of social policy, insuring a safeguard to those who may be at a disadvantage. Although most modern Jews are unaware of the mythic context out of which tikkun olam emerged, the concept itself continues to enchant and energize us. (https://www.tikkun.org/environment). You could call this the premier environmental mitzvah (good deed, imperative). In a phone interview, Paul Driessen, a member of The Cornwall Alliance and an observant Conservative Jew, said he believes in the concept of “Tikkun Olam,” a Hebrew phrase that means “repairing the world,” and is interpreted as safeguarding the health and welfare of humanity, the environment, and the Earth. The Tikkun Olam Dilemma: Juggling Social and Environmental Agendas by Jonathon Feinberg Serving on a committee to develop a community garden for an underserved population in Woodland, CA, I experienced firsthand the challenges of collaboration between groups with different interests. Membership & Dues Retreat Centers, Organic Farms, Outdoor Adventures, Song of Songs in Nature; Put Love at the Center, Welcome to the Wellsprings Redesign – New Things Coming, #forgiveness #holidays: Yom Kippur #YomKippur #Jewish_forgiveness. of Public Health and Environment has also sent out an urgent plea for volunteer medical professionals and administrators to … Care for the other. Tikkun Olam: The Audubon Society and Bird Conservation. The IISAAK OLAM Foundation mobilizes knowledge and fosters capacity for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. Tikkun olam, which literally means fixing the world, is the Jewish theory that supports recycling. Tikkun holds that an environmentalism that doesn't explicitly challenge the ethos of materialism and selfishness generated by global capitalism, which leads people to consume recklessly and without regard to the consequences for the planet, will fail. The classic way to plant a tree in Israel is through the Jewish National Fund. The Torah commands us (Deuteronomy 20:19-20) that even in times of war when we most need natural resources, we are not allowed to cut down fruit trees. (954) 989-0205. The Colorado Dept. A Public Letter to Supreme Court Nominee Amy Barrett, Extinction Illness: Grave Affliction and Possibility, Rabbinic Letter in Support of Professor Michelle Alexander. Rationally speaking, species come and go, including our own. You can plant trees in developing nations responsibly through groups like Trees for the Future. Tikkun We look to improve our communities by understanding the issues which face members of our community; whether that be synagogue community, local community, or even world community. not only in our homes, but our businesses, religious communities, and organizations. In our endeavour to act in accordance with “Tikkun Olam” – repairing the world – we strive to establish strong and positive relationships between Jewish people and other nations by connecting them in joint efforts to solve vital problems. Earth Day Northwest 2020 TDHS Climate Covenant. 16:20) to Jeffe… If Tikkun Olam matters to you as you say, then listen to the poorest in America who want a hand up and not a handout. To learn more about and join our Beyt Tikkun Shabbat Services, click here. Tikkun Olam means 'repairing the world' and expresses the Jewish desire to encourage harmony in the world. The classic way to plant a tree in Israel is through the Jewish National Fund. It's a good time to encourage children to begin thinking about the natural world and the concept of tikkun olam, “repairing the world”. And we can take this mitzvah to the whole world: The Bible forbids chopping down fruit trees in a time of siege (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). Tikkun Olam A jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. Listen to the legal immigrants who fled horror to come to America to be free from the oppressive hand of socialism and authoritarianism and free to live with hope and dignity, in one united nation. OLAM From the Hebrew phrase ‘Tikkun Olam,’ meaning “to repair, heal, or perfect the world.” A Jewish ethic of responsibility for the health of people and nature. Trees “Planting a tree” for a happy occasion has become almost a Jewish stereotype, but it really is a huge mitzvah. In modern times, we can do this by following the waste-reduction principles of: reduce, reuse, recycle. Olam means the entire world. See more ideas about jewish art, judaism quote, hebrew letters. Tikkun Olam Justice, justice you shall pursue For the past half a century the Jewish community in North America has centered “Repair of the World,” the pursuit of social and environmental justice. I find this ironic, as Judaism vehemently supports saving the environment, especially recycling. “Michael Lerner takes the universal qualities wrongly diminished as ‘feminine’—caring, kindness, empathy, love—and dares to make them guides to a new kind of politics that can challenge the cruelty, competition, and dominance wrongly elevated as ‘masculine.’ Revolutionary Love opens our minds and hearts to a fully human way of living and governing.” — Gloria Steinem, feminist activist, and author of My Life on the Road. Tikkun olam is often used exclusively to describe acts of social justice and environmental awareness. These are certainly important, as we are all responsible to right injustice. 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