What The World Needs Now Is Love And Tikkun Olam?
Something Is Broken and Humans Must Repair It. Who's Gonna Start?
For those who don’t know, Tikkun Olam is a concept that means "repairing the world." It is one of the core tenets of Judaism. The term has evolved over time and its newest iteration has become synonymous with taking social action. For many Jewish organizations being of service, Tikkun Olam is the cornerstone of their mission to end poverty, alleviate hunger, and fight for social justice.
As far as I’m concerned—and concerned I am—Tikkun Olam feels like a thankless gig for Jews to take on right now. Maybe that’s the point. Repairing the world in the face of antisemitism isn’t about altruism—it’s a form of rebellion. It’s proof that no matter how many times they try to knock us down; we’ll keep building ourselves right back up. Tikkun Olam isn’t just about fixing what’s broken. It’s about refusing to stay broken and doing what must be done to rectify our situation, no matter the cost.
Let’s be honest. Tikkun Olam at this moment in history feels like an exercise in futility when you see how much hatred is directed at Jewish people. Why is it our responsibility to patch up the inadequacies of those who can’t grasp the basics of humanity? Why are we the ones constantly standing up to fix the messes made by haters while being their primary scapegoat?
If I were king of the forest, Tikkun Olam might take on a sharper edge. The onslaught of Jew-hatred demands something more than patience and tolerance. It’s time to stand firm, unapologetically. Loud and proud. If the world can’t tolerate us living peacefully, then those who threaten will find out they are playing a dangerous game. History has taught us well—we survive, and those who try to erase us eventually fall under the weight of their own animus.
Let’s put aside—only for now—the unacceptable actions happening across American universities. Look at the recent events in Dublin, celebrating the closing of the Israeli consulate. Look at what’s happening in Australia, a neo-Nazi rally in Melbourne. Look at the evil that just befell Magdeburg, Germany. The Neo-Nazis and Islamists making violent, aggressive waves is not a winning strategy or argument for the short or long haul. Outnumbering us doesn’t mean outsmarting us. We’re Jews. We’ve survived for thousands of years. We’ll survive this anti-Israel—cloaked in antisemitism-—as we always have. Those who deny our right to peaceful existence will face the consequences—to reiterate—history tends to repeat itself.
Altruism feels incongruent with the current wave of antisemitic rhetoric, threats, and violence happening around the world. Yes, being a good person matters. It is what my mother—a survivor of Dachau—always imparted on us. She had seen evil close up and wanted to instill goodness in her three children. But why should we keep extending our hands to people who wouldn’t know “good” if it smacked them in the face? It feels like a burden Jews shouldn’t have to bear any longer. We probably will though because that’s in our DNA.
Watch Jackie DeShannon sing, “What the World Needs Now Is Love”
[SIDEBAR] Tikkun Olam would be a great teaching moment for the Democrats right about now. After losing control of the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, the Dems seem more invested in dissecting external blame than engaging in meaningful introspection. If they ever want to regain power, they need to embrace the core of Tikkun Olam—acknowledge what’s broken, accept responsibility, and actively repair it.
Listening to voters—the real, sometimes inconvenient truths of why they lost—requires humility. It’s not enough to deflect or double down on the same strategies. Tikkun Olam teaches us that healing begins by facing the fractures head-on, not ignoring the cracks and pretending the foundation is still solid. If the Democrats adopt this mindset, they might just find a path forward. If not, the world stays broken, and so does their grip on our government.
Pardon the digression. If anything, it’s time to be more proactive, more unyielding. Those marching to end Jewish lives should be the ones looking over their shoulders, not us. Let this be a warning to the uneducated, propagandized masses—be careful what you wish for. The karma boomerang is real, and history has shown time and again that aggressors hell bent on eliminating us end up eliminated themselves.
[SIDEBAR] Have I got an exploding pager and walkie-talkie for you?
On the eve of Hanukkah, light a candle not just for remembrance and tradition but for defiance. Every flame is a reminder: we endure, we resist, and we shine brighter with every challenge. Tikkun Olam isn’t just about healing the world—it’s also about ensuring the world knows that Jews will not be erased. Not now. Not ever.
Please watch Michael Jackson’s, “Heal The World” aka Tikkun Olam.
You can also help by getting my book.
