There have been a lot of calls for healing after the sack of the Capitol last Wednesday.

Some prominent Christians have made denouncements; others have been prominently silent.

This has made me think about the Jewish idea of *tikkun olum" (תיקון עולם) "to heal the world."

1/

This idea has been seized upon in liberal Jewish circles and is probably so overly-familiar as to be cliché. Not so in Christian circles. It comes from a third-century Kabbalist (mystical) Mishnah.

*takein/takkun* = heal or repair
*olam* = the world

2/

But the broader context was applied to society--making amends so as to improve society. In other words, *tikkun* means seeing what is broken and addressing it. The Mishnaic context applies to legal measures meant to remedy deteriorating conditions.

3/

More importantly, the theological thrust is against idolatry.

"To speedily see Your mighty splendor, to cause detestable (idolatry) to be removed from the land, and the (false) gods will be utterly 'cut off,' to heal the world under the Almighty's kingdom."

4/

...

Thus, *tikkun olam* as picture of "world-healing" must involve (1) confronting idolatry & (2) remediating deteriorating conditions in society.

Versions of "healing" that leave idolatry in place and, to quote MLK, "crystalize the patterns of the status quo" are inadiquate.

5/

I'm attracted to *tikkun olam* because I am attracted to the thought of seeing healing, wholeness, and repair.

Yet any calls for healing or decries of divisiveness that disallow redressing roots and fruits of the detestable and idolatrous are actually obstacles to healing.

End