Tikkun Olam Resource Group

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The "ultimate purpose" of any government, organization, or individual should be "tikkun olam, the repair of the world." - Hadassah Lieberman [paraphrased]

Welcome

Within Judaism there is a belief or teaching known as "Tikkun" which is more than just an idea, it is a way of life. "Tikkun" means to repair, heal, or restore. Tikkun Atzmi (repairing oneself), Tikkun Kehilah (repairing one's community), and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) are all expressions of this idea of Tikkun.

Our desire is to provide information and resources that will allow you to be more effective at bringing healing and restoration to the world you live in. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions. [Feedback] [Index | Top of Page | QuickLinksİ | Map]

Index

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bulletTop of Page
bulletWelcome
bulletTikkun Top 10
bulletTikkun Map
bulletDefining Utopia
bulletTikkun Tips
bulletIn The News
bulletTikkun Links
bulletTikkun Scripture
bulletQuick Linksİ

Tikkun Top 10

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We are building a 'Top 10' list of ideas that can have a profound multi-faceted impact in bringing healing to the earth. Write and let us know your ideas and we'll post them here.

  1. Live in a small house or small space.
    Moving into a small home or small living space can save precious time and money that can be redirected toward other things. Small house construction uses less resources. Click here to visit the Small House Society and learn more.
  2. Simplify.
    Reducing your possessions and commitments of time and money can help make you much more focused, effective, and peaceful. Find out what your priorities are, and focus on those things. Click here to visit the Simple Living Resource Group.
  3. Ride a bicycle.
    Move to a pedestrian / bicycle friendly community and begin walking or biking to work rather than driving. If you must own a car, find an old fuel efficient car for lower cost of ownership. This will save time, save you money, and improve your health. Click here to visit Life Mobility and learn more about transportation alternatives.
  4. Become a vegetarian.
    Many believe that meat consumption is a leading cause of various health problems. The meat industry has an adverse impact on landscape and the environment as well as causing suffering of innocent animals. When you become a vegetarian, you simplify your eating and when making wise choices you can have improved nutrition. Click here to visit the Health Resource Group and learn more about healthy eating.
  5. Utilize technology for effective living.
    Computers, cell phones, PDAs, and other technological gadgets can make our lives much more effective. Figure out practical ways that you can make the most of technology to become as effective and efficient as possible. Click here to visit the Technology Services Resource Group.
  6. Turn Off the TV and Turn On Life.
    People lose many hours in front of the TV. By turning off the TV, you are turning on reality. If you choose to watch, then choose what you watch. Support Public Television and other sources of quality programming. By choosing to live life rather than watching TV, you will be more active. This will lead to greater health. Many people could actually pick up a part-time job in the time they spend watching TV. Think of the additional income you could make. Or, volunteer the time to a good cause. By getting unplugged from what some people call 'the plug in drug' you will be restoring vitality to your life. Much of 'Television Programming' is actually social 'programming' or social engineering with the goal of manipulating consumer and social behavior. By getting unplugged from the TV, you can become influenced by other more healthful and beneficial sources, such as books or real-life experience. If you choose to watch, try to record the show and watch it on your schedule later. Don't let the TV schedule become your schedule for living. For more information about turning off TV, visit the
    TV-Turn Off Network at http://www.tvturnoff.org/
  7. Become the Media.
    The present day media is filled with sensationalism and misinformation. Consider creating your own web page with news or helpful information from first hand experience. If you enjoy writing, start a mailing list. Even without sophisticated technology, you can offer your knowledge and experience to others. Become a source of wisdom to others. If you are able to produce videos, offer these as an alternative to television programming. Click here to visit the Activist Resource Group and consider topics of interest you might cover.
  8. Find Balance.
    Visit the Map page at Resources for Life to consider how you can enrich every area of your life. Click here to visit the Map Page now. By living a balanced life, you become more effective and help enrich the lives of those around you.
  9. Help us build our Top 10 List.
    When you help us build our top 10 list, you are encouraging other people to make choices that heal the world. Please submit your suggestions today. Contact us as indicated at the bottom of this page, or click here to use our feedback form.

Tikkun Map

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The Tikkun Map is a simple visual diagram of the content available at Resources for Life. Click here to view the Tikkun map.

Defining Utopia

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"To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

As the quote above suggests, people have differing views about what a global utopia should be - differing visions of 'heaven on earth.' Many leaders, societies, and even armies have sought to establish utopia on earth. In fact, 'the pursuit of world utopia' could serve as a simple description of the human experience over history. When a powerful nation exercises its military might and imposes its own values and politics on another nation, it is acting from a desire to achieve a better world - a type of utopian pursuit.

Below are some suggestions for a proposed utopia or 'heaven on earth' that most people would agree with. A utopian plan should value all life on earth and include the delivery of basic needs to all people on earth:

  1. clean air
  2. clean water
  3. healthful food
  4. shelter that is sustainable
  5. healthcare that focuses on creating wellness more than preventing illness or responding to disease
  6. education that equips people to heal the planet
  7. work that brings healing to the planet
  8. telecommunications infrastructure and computing
  9. sufficient discretionary income and resources to have and exercise freedom and the pursuit of individual dreams

Can you think of other items to add to the above list or ways to expand on the above list? Let us know. [Feedback Form]

Tikkun Tips

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bulletSimple Things You Can Do
bulletMake Resources for Life your Internet Start Page. Every time you get on the Internet you'll be reminded to click on the Hunger Site and the Rainforest Site. Click here for instructions.
bulletLive Simply. Live simply, that others may simply live. Keep your living expenses down, reduce stress, preserve the environment, have more time and resources available to help others. For more information, click here to visit the Simple Living Resource Group.
bulletBe Prepared To Help Others
bulletCarry extra change to pay for parking meters that have run out.
bulletCarry a cellular phone to help people in need.
bulletStore a set of extra long heavy duty jumper cables in your car to jump start cars.
bulletIn the winter time, purchase several 40 pound bags of water softener salt crystals to carry in the back of your car. When walkways and entryways get slippery, you can sprinkle a little salt down.
bulletIn the winter time, carry a snow shovel in your car. You'll be ready to help people shovel snow anywhere.

Can you think other Tikkun Tips? Please let us know. [Feedback]

In The News

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'Tikkun olam' is our purpose - Hadassah Lieberman
30 August 2000 0101 Jerusalem Post
By Janine Zacharia
[Click here for the complete article.]

WASHINGTON (August 30) - The "ultimate purpose" of an Al Gore-Joseph Lieberman administration will be "tikkun olam, the repair of the world," says Hadassah Lieberman, wife of the Democratic vice presidential nominee, speaking at the annual conference of B'nai B'rith International. Lieberman also referred playfully to one of her husband's most blatant religious moments. When accepting Gore's offer to be his running mate earlier this month, Lieberman said he needed to take a moment to let the "spirit move" him. This week, Hadassah said, Joe took his maiden voyage on his campaign airplane, aptly called "Spirit." After a busy 24-hour stint of cross-country campaigning, she said jokingly, that she realized "that's what it means to say the spirit moves us." Also in attendance yesterday at the B'nai B'rith conference was Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the US. [Click here for the complete article.]

Tikkun Links

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Here are links to resources for improving your life and the world around you.

bulletActivist Resource Group
bulletFaith Resource Group
bulletHealth Resource Group
bulletLife University
bulletOprah Winfrey
bulletSimple Living Resource Group
bulletResources for Life - Library
bulletResources for Life - Reading Room
bulletResources for Life - Film Series

Tikkun Scripture

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Isaiah 58

True Fasting

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD ,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

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Copyright İ 1964-2002 Resources for Life | Revised: Friday, 21 March 2003 11:11:36 Central Time US