Tikkun olam

Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." The expression tikkun olam is used in the Mishnah in the phrase mip'nei tikkun ha-olam ("for the sake of tikkun of the world") to indicate that a practice should be followed not because it is required by Biblical law, but because it helps avoid social chaos

The concept of tikkun olam literally meaning repairing the world. It is connected to the passage in the section of the Aleinu prayer, litaken olam bimalkhut Shaddai – to perfect the world through the establishment of Yahweh’s kingdom. Yahweh’s kingdom is a messianic age when world is finally made whole. The actual state of the world will be a triumph over all its enemies, including death itself. Everlasting life. We read in Isaiah 25:8 “Death will be swallowed up in eternity and the Lord G-d will wipe away the tears from all faces”. What rejoice and excitement awaiting us! Having Yeshua HaMasiach reign over all nations.

The earth will be filled with life as mentioned further in Isaiah 45:8 “it was not brought into being to be void, it was created to be settled (filled with life). In this messianic era all poverty and hunger will be overcome. We can project a permanent sabbatical yea in which Yahweh truly owns the earth and all privileges. All people will sit under their own vine and fig trees. (Micha 4:4) Violence will seize and peace will reign between all nations. (Isaiah 2:4). People will pursue spiritual ideals and self fulfillment. (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:4 – 5)  In that Era there will be neither famine nor war, neither envy nor competition, for good things will flow in abundance and all the delights will be as freely available as dust. The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d. Tikku olam in this era can be defined as the period where the world will be brought to its final perfection.

In that Era we will still observe the mitzvos; indeed, it is then that our observance will attain perfection, as mentioned above. Nevertheless, since nothing will disturb our Torah study, we will be able to learn how to observe the mitzvos perfectly in a relatively short time. Thereafter, our attention will be devoted to the deeper dimensions of Torah study.

The kingdom of Yahweh has two phases: (1) the receiving of it now through faith in the Messiah Yeshua who offers it to everyone and (2) the ultimate receiving of it at its full installation at the end-time event of Messiah’s second coming.

In this sense, the tikkun olam was initiated by Yeshua at his first coming. The New Testament (Brit Chadashah) tells the story in its full setting. At his first coming, the kingdom of Yahweh was offered through repentance from sins and reception of Yeshua as Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world.

The kingdom of God is hidden from the world but abides in those who receive the Messiah Yeshua by the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) of Yahweh. In 2 Corinthians 4:1-7, the apostle (shaliach) Paul explains this awesome installment of the kingdom of Yahweh in us now who believe in and receive Him into their hearts:

We do not lose heart…
For we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

This helps us gain understanding of how the hidden kingdom of Yahweh is displayed now on earth as well as its future manifestation in Yeshua HaMasiach . In a world filled with sorrow, abandonment and hopelessness, this tight, little Hebrew phrase—tikkun olam—is a priceless treasure.

By imitating Yahweh in the Messiah Yeshua , we participate in his work by repairing the world now. Yet we understand that all we do at best is patch it up for a later, ultimate day when Yahweh will repair it forever. He will renew all things. Isaiah announces this day and what will happen:

He will swallow up death for all time,
and the Lord Yahweh will wipe tears away from all faces.
And He will remove the reproach of his people
from all the earth. For Yahweh has spoken.