TIKUN OLAM

    This is the time on our calendar when so many of our children and grandchildren are graduating from different schools. 

    I pose a question, "What does graduation really mean?"

    I recall the words given in a commencement address, "Life has no remote, so get up and change it yourself." How true this statement is.  

    The word commencement, though used for graduation, really means beginning. The graduate is beginning another plateau into the halls of education, into their selected professions. With great pride another plateau has been reached and yet another plateau is to be reached.

   The beauty of life is not to remain stagnate but rather to continue to grow and to achieve and accomplish more in life.

  Abraham Maslow, one of the foremost spokesman for Humanistic Psychology, developed the concept of "Self Actualization." In essence, his theory is teaching us that 'Life is to lead us on the road to actualize our potential.' While pursuing this course  we must search for our destiny with open arms, to achieve our maximum level of fulfillment.

  Too often so many children and young adults sell themselves short, because they cannot tolerate the long and arduous climb to success. We must be more encouraging to show them that the road at times may be bumpy, but it will eventually lead to a smooth and blissful life. 

   I read recently a magnificent Baccalaureate address that was delivered by Peter Salovey, President of Yale University, who happens to be a scion of the Soloveitchik family. 

     He titled his speech"Repair the World".  Dr. Salovey articulated life's mission by quoting Hillel from Pirkey Avot, "What  is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.  That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this -go and study it!"

     Then he proceeded to tell the graduates that the touchstone of the Jewish  experience is Tikun Olam, literally, To Repair the World ."Your purpose in life is to improve the world to make it livable for all people." Then he quoted Rabbi Tarfon, "It is not your responsibility to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it".

      It is hard to imagine the president of a prestigious university, anywhere else in the world, delivering such an unabashedly proud Jewish address. At a time when the headlines highlight anti Israel activism and open anti semitism on the college campus, it is truly a breath of fresh air to hear such an address delivered. Only in America are we privileged to hear words of our Talmud, spoken at a graduation exercise. 

    These words are not the the words spoken by Korach against Moshe and Aaron, words of destruction and maliciousness, but these are words to bring about a Tikun Olam. Korach represents persuasive demagogues who take advantage of the circumstances for their own benefit. Korach was not honest and his real motives were not for the betterment of the people. He was a man of jealousy and envy which can only lead to devastation and a denial of Tikun Olam.

     We and our graduates need to adhere to the words of Dr. Salovey and work together to achieve a true Tikun Olam, that will help usher in a Messianic time for all mankind.