Taking "Tikkun Olam" Out of--and Putting It Back Into--Context

For "progressive" Jews, the phrase "tikkun olam" has become synonymous with leftist notions of social justice. That's what writer Allan Gould took it to mean in a piece he wrote for the National Post. In a letter to the paper, however, Jacob Mendlovic reveals its true meaning--and it ain't something out of the lefty playbook:

Mr. Gould also mentions that tikkun olam (healing the world) is another commandment in Judaism. False. It is certainly not one of the 613, but derived from a verse in a secondary prayer Aleinu, which states: “to repair the world under the sovereignty of God.” Liberal Jews omit the last part. Since Judaism is a God-centred religion, their mangled slogan is meaningless.