The Hebrew word "TIKKUN," which means "repair" or "reparation," can be traced back to the Talmud, the rabbinic literature written in the first few centuries of the Common Era. Centuries later, in the course of Jewish history, the meaning of the word came to include the repair, restoration, or healing of the world in a more cosmic or holistic sense.

This holistic view of restoration or healing, described in great detail in the Kabbalah (Judaism's mystical tradition), involves an understanding of the subconscious mind and its role in shaping our behaviors and relationships.  Given the widespread absence of this deeper understanding in today's world, "tikkun" has become associated primarily with social and political initiatives.  A great deal of repair and healing is accomplished through these means, though often with tremendous effort, expense and conflict.

Although political and social struggles are necessary, the resources they require of us, not to mention the tragic loss of human life, are more than we can afford.  The outcomes are also frequently ineffective because we tend to overlook the root causes of our problems which lie buried in the subconscious mind, playing themselves out over and over again.


Behind the scenes at RabbiTom.com and mamash.org we are reclaiming, or bringing to light, the fuller meaning of the word "tikkun."  That is to say, we are actively engaged in a more holistic or "integral" approach to repair and healing.

Come see what we're working on...