Tikkun Olam in the Flesh - Israel

"tikkun olam is the idea that Jews bear responsibility not only for their own moral, spiritual, and material welfare, but also for the welfare of society at large"

I spent the past 10 days leading a group of 40 Israeli and American students aged 18-22 through the country of Israel. Birthright. Its intended to be a profound emotional experience revealing (taglit) much about themselves while simultaneously educating them on the history, religion, and events in Israel.

My co staffer and I were led by a 45 year old Israeli man who's seen and experienced more than one can imagine yet alone be able to sleep comfortably at night. This man also happened to be the most positive, joyous, and optimistic man which was infectious as he radiated love through every pore. Funny how that works. Tikkum olam.

For his birthday two years ago I learned that he donated one of his kidneys to a random stranger. Tikkun Olam.

At Mt. Herzl, Israel's national cemetery found on the west side of Jerusalem, he brought us to the grave a girl named Shira. She was one of 4 killed last year, January of 2017, by a terrorist who drove a truck into a group of IDF troops in Jerusalem that he accompanied. Listening to him recount it sent deep pain into my chest. Through his selfless and brave actions he was able to stop the terrorist before more harm was done and act as a first responder saving many lives. Tikkum olam.

I sat in a hospital with him for a few hours while we waited for a participant to get treated. I asked how he mentally copes with what he's experienced. "I lock myself in a room with a tub of ice cream, I put on the dumbest movie I can find, and then the next day I bury it and move forward," he smiled. He smiled. Tikkum olam.

One night I fell asleep on the couch in his room, I woke up with a blanket covering me. Tikkum olam.

Working with Chaim redefined my own standards for what a good person constitutes and what I will strive to become. I told him he was an angel and he just shook his head no, to him it seems as though he feels it is his duty as a human. It made me think about how the world would be if everyone was more concerned with the welfare of society at large. Tikkun Olam.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-dead-as-truck-plows-into-troops-in-jerusalem/