Recon Network Spiritual Activism 1
Recon Network Spiritual Activism 1
Recon Network Spiritual Activism 1
1
Goals…of the network
(https://www.jewishrecon.org/networks/2017/spirituality-activism)
2
Towards the Evolving Globally Sustainable Religious
Civilization of the Jewish People Rabbi Shawn Zevit
3
1. Tikkun Hanefesh V’Olam: Balance
and Repair of the Soul and the World
Often times this task can seem daunting. With so
much suffering amidst the wonder of life itself,
where is one to begin to attempt to return the
balance to the world? Before tikkun olam became
synonymous with social action in the 1960's, earlier
Jewish mystics developed the idea of tikkun as re-
balancing the divine energies in the world within
one’s own soul (tikkun hanefesh) and on a
transpersonal and universal level (tikkun olam).
4
2. Tikkun Hanefesh V’Olam: Balance
and Repair of the Soul and the World
The imbalance was not seen as a result
of an absence of hesed (loving-kindness
or fluidity), gevurah (strength or
structure) or any of the other sephirot
(Divine emanations, attributes or
foundational energies of existence), but
rather the absence of interdependent
relationships between all the energies
that make up the fabric of the world.
5
3. Tikkun Hanefesh V’Olam: Balance
and Repair of the Soul and the World
We are not inherently broken and need repair.
We are inherently whole, but not always in
relationship with this sense of Echad (Unity),
our Godly potential, with each other and with
the world. Perspective or systems may be
broken; their repair happens when we
reaffirm our covenant with Life and take our
values and beliefs from the prayer book and
the study halls into every aspect of our lives.
6
Blessing for Study for Community
Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
7
Torah and Talmud Texts
Any person who works for needs of community, it is as if
that person is studying Torah. P. Tal., Berachot 5:1
Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and
inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 16:20
8
Zechariah 8: 16-17
10
Walking in God’s Path:
Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 14a
11
Likutei Amirim, “The Tanya” , Reb
Schneur Zalman of Llady (Hasidic)
Tohu (disorder) refers to the state of the original
Sefirot (Divine Emanations), as unformed and
unordered points. Tikun (restitution; reformation)
refers to the state of the sefirot rearranged, meded
and reformed…Thus among the Sefirot of Tohu there
is no inter-relationship… no mutual inclusion- each on
its own, without relating to its opposite. The Sefirot
of Tikkun, on the other hand, compound one
another…permitting the mitigating influence of
wisdom, and are, therefore, able to inter-relate.
12
Rabbi Ira Eisenstein (adapted), From the Shabbat Vehagim, the
Reconstructionist Shabbat and Festival prayer book, Recon Press
13
Tikkun Olam (Acts of Caring and Repair of the
World) Mishkan Shalom, Phil, PA
Tikkun Olam refers to the imperative to repair the world, so that it
reflects the divine values of justice (tzedek), compassion (hesed),
and peace (shalom). Our ethic as a people is grounded in our
collective memory of slavery and exodus, oppression and liberation.
The Torah repeatedly emphasizes that our experience as slaves
teaches us that we have a special responsibility to the stranger and
the powerless, "You shall not oppress the stranger for you know the
experience of the stranger having yourselves been strangers in the
land of Egypt."
After the Holocaust, the Biblical commandment "Do not stand idly
by the blood of your neighbor" assumes a new and urgent meaning.
As a people who suffered so much as a result of the indifference
and passivity of others, we must actively oppose injustice and
oppression wherever it occurs. To be neutral on issues of justice is
to side with the oppressor. Our passion for justice must be applied
not only to Jews but to all peoples. If we are not for ourselves who
will be for us; if we are only for ourselves, what are we?
14
Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Finding a Spiritual
Home, p.26
Many congregations sponsor occasional social action
projects. Yet, if a congregation were to undertake
the mission statement initiative, it is likely that it
would find that one of the main purposes of Judaism
is to bring aid and comfort to those less fortunate
than oneself. A justice agenda will move a
community between people doing important
mitzvah work with each other. It will also result in
attracting Jews to the congregation with deep
commitments to working for peace and justice in the
world.
15
1. What of Prayer and Social Justice?
by Rabbi Shawn Zevit
•
16
2. What of Prayer and Social Justice?
by Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Love is an action, not only a feeling-
And we pray for justice to enter our hearts
The Jewish path in prayer and justice
Is both reflexive and externally active.
Our word for prayer is “tefillah”
From the ancient Hebrew “palal”-
To judge or discern.
The prefix directs us
to meet the internal “judge”
And pour our hearts and action outwards
From the place of greater clarity and equanimity.
Are not judges those we look to
For the dispensation and discernment of justice?
17
3. What of Prayer and Social Justice?
by Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Without prayer we may start to believe
We alone are the source and judge
Of what is a right course of action
Without taking our prayers
Out of the sanctuary into the streets
We risk seeking comfort and escape
From the cries around us.
18
Reflection and Next Steps
19
Aleynu (its Upon Us)
Music and Words by Shayndel Kahn, Recorded by S Zevit
www.cdbaby.com/zevit3
20
Resources
RESOURCES FOR TIKKUN OLAM
Dorff, Elliot N. “The Meaning and Significance of Tikkun Olam,” The Way into Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World),
Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005, pp.7-20, 250-251
Jacobs, Jill. “The History of ‘Tikkun Olam’,” Zeek, June 2007, http://www.zeek.net/706tohu/
Zion, Noam. “The History of the Term Tikkun Olam in 20th Century America,”
https://hartman.org.il/Blogs_View.asp?Article_Id=1238&Cat_Id=413&Cat_Type=
https://www.jewishrecon.org/act/doing-justice/tikkun-olam
https://www.jewishrecon.org/document/making-our-synagogues-vessels-tikkun-olam
https://www.jewishrecon.org/article/how-build-just-and-holy-congregations
https://www.jewishrecon.org/article/political-activism-form-prayer
http://jewishexponent.com/2017/09/13/new-year-start-renewed-sense-tikkun-olam/
http://zevit.wpengine.com/prayer-and-social-justice/
http://auburnseminary.org/rev-dr-william-barbers-rosh-hashanah-sermon-time-new-year-new-america/
21