🕊️

i have long been inspired by the Hebrew phrase and Jewish practice of “tikkun olam”, as i understand it – repairing, mending, or healing the world. this is the practice of bodhisattvas, as we Buddhists would say, and is certainly an embodiment of what i was taught in church as a child of “loving our neighbor” as Jesus preached.

what Hamas did on 10/7 was horrific destruction. the opposite of tikkun olam. at least 1200 Israelis killed and over 6,900 injured then and since, along with roughly 240 hostages taken, of which it is estimated 130 remain. 

nor is it tikkun olam that the Israeli government and IDF are practicing under the leadership of Netanyahu. with over 18,000 Gazans killed (70% of whom are children and women), over 50,000 injured, and 85% of population completely displaced, with an estimated 50% of population starving, and 95% of the population lacking clean water, we can only call this destruction, not mending or repairing, or healing. 

if security and peace are the goal, the war isn’t working. this war isn’t bringing security or peace. quite the opposite. so much death. this isn’t the practice of tikkun olam. 

yet, i see an ever increasing number of Jewish human rights activists and rabbis who are embracing tikkun olam and have been at the forefront of calling for a ceasefire and for peace. 

an example of this is, Rabbi Irwin Keller, who early in this war on 10/18, wrote the poem “Taking Sides” in which he states “Today I am taking sides. I am taking the side of peace.” i have shared Rabbi Keller’s full poem in a previous post. please read his profound and moving words.

may hearts open, may wisdom arise, may there be an end to the violence and death, may the hostages be free, safe, and returned to their families, may their be a safe space for all people to thrive with the dignity inherent in their sacredness, and may we all embrace a practice of tikkun olam.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏼

#ceasefire #Israel #Gaza #Palestinians #war #peace #TikkunOlam #repairing #mending #healing #RabbiIrwinKeller #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art