Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World, Healing God in Kabbalistic Thought
Part of the series,听The Dynamics of Change听
With Dr. Eitan Fishbane, Professor of Jewish Thought, 91快活林
The term听tikkun, which refers to the process of cosmic-divine repair as well as the personal-psychological repair of the human soul, was central to Jewish mystical thought and literature. The idea and practice flourished especially in the Zohar and related texts in 13th- and 14th-century Spain; in the teachings of Moses Cordovero, Isaac Luria, and other Kabbalists of 16th-century Tzfat; and in the Kabbalah of modern eastern European Hasidism. In this session, we will delve into sources that understand听tikkun olam听as an act of healing the Divine Self, which has the potential of bringing God closer to our world. This is often referred to as 鈥渢heurgy鈥� in the study of religion. The mystics believed that our human actions in this world have the power to effect change and transformation within God鈥檚 very self!听What is more, we will explore how听tikkun听was used in describing the process of mending one鈥檚 moral and devotional life, sometimes referred to as听tikkun ha-middot. This process of听tikkun听as personal growth and positive change听was also understood to have a broader theurgic effect upon the healing or repair of God.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Dynamics of Change听
Change is an integral part of life and a central feature of the Jewish experience. Join 91快活林 scholars for an in-depth exploration of significant changes鈥攔eligious, political, and personal鈥攖hroughout Jewish history and life. Together we鈥檒l consider core questions such as: What inspires change? What circumstances are most conducive to change, and what (or who) drives it? How do we experience change and adapt to its impact? How can Jewish values and ideas inspire us to change the world for the better?
