Tikkun Olam

You might remember the final scene of Schindler's List when the prisoners present a gold ring to Schindler to express their gratitude for him saving their lives.
       Schindler's response is one of agony and regret, "I could have done more," he tells his friend. "I could have gotten more out." Here is the clip: Schindler's List

Nobody in their right mind would doubt that Oskar Schindler heroically saved more than 1,000 people. In Hebrew this is called, "Tikkun Olam," which is the idea that we do acts of kindness or mercy and in so doing we repair the world. It is a concept from the Mishnah, which are rabbinic teachings.

I like the idea of "tikkun olam." I grew up with it and appreciate the humanitarian heart behind it. But I have several caveats about it as well.

First and foremost, we do not "earn" anything by our good deeds, whether that be favor with God, salvation, or honor from others. In my faith tradition (which has its roots in Judaism and is shaped now by following Jesus), we cannot earn our way into relationship with God. That relationship is a gift of grace, given through Jesus Christ.

Second, tikkun olam at its very best is an overflow of God's goodness in our lives. We do acts of kindness as an expression of God's kindness in our lives in the first place.

Third, I believe there are degrees of tikkun olam. When a Jew helps a Jew that is one type of kind act. But when a Jew helps someone whose culture or religion is opposed to Jews that is on another level of tikkun olam. That is what Jesus was getting at when he told his followers to "love your enemies."

There is no doubt that the world needs Tikkun Olam, now more than ever. I hope, and pray, that it flows from the right motivations in our hearts.