Emanuel Synagogue - Tell June 2018 5778

{TIKKUN OLAM WITHIN THE INTERPERSONAL REALM}
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins
It has been an exciting month with the dedication of our new sanctuary - part
of the Millie Phillips Building. This building also houses our new preschool
(to be dedicated once we receive all the relevant permits allowing the children
to move there). On that special evening, I wanted to thank so many people,
but inevitably, as perfection rests only within the ultimate mysterious one we
call God, I made several omissions. Welcome to the realm of the human!
According to kabbalist thought, since
perfection only resides in the realm
of the Holy One, the creation of
the universe we inhabit necessarily
comes with imperfection and the
need to repair. This repair is known
as “Tikkun”. We often use the
phrase “Tikkun Olam”, repairing the
universe, in the sense of the social
justice work we do as individuals and
a community. However, the early
rabbinic phrase enshrined in the
prayer “Aleinu”, that concludes every
service, and features prominently on
Rosh Hashanah, speaks of “repairing
the world within the sovereignty
of God.” This means that we must
understand the work of Tikkun
not just as right action, but also
spiritual, healing work as well.
Now, right action is at the core of
what Judaism is about, and made
clear from the Torah’s injunction,
“Justice, justice you shall pursue”
(Deuteronomy 16:20). It is
reinforced by dozens and dozens of
mitzvot focusing on our acting in
all spheres of life involving justice
and equity, particularly looking after
those less privileged in economic
and social power structures. The
prophets emphasize this message in
their teachings; famously in Isaiah’s
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