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Penelope Stuart Bourk |
Tikkun Olam |
Ms. Bourk’s husband is a woodturner and when a vessel he is turning breaks, Ms. Bourk “rescues” the vessel and repairs it with yarn, in a ritual enactment of tikkun olam. Drawing on a creation myth from Zohar , literally “mending the vessel” that broke in the beginning and so “repairing the world.” Tikkun olam from WikipediaTikkun olam (תיקון עולם) is a Hebrew phrase which translates to "repairing the world." It is important in Judaism and is often used to explain the Jewish concept of social justice. In some explanations, the more mitzvot that are performed, the closer the world will be towards perfection. Some (religious) Jews believe that acts of tikkun olam will either trigger or fulfill the prophesied coming of the Moshiach ( messiah) or messianic age (the World to Come). The belief in tikkun olam is also central to the Zohar ("Book of Splendor"), the most important book in kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). The phrase is used in the prayer, such as in Aleinu: l'takken olam b'malkhut Shaddai; "to repair the world in the Kingdom of God." It is also used in the Mishnah, in the phrase mip'nei tikkun olam ("because of tikkun olam") to indicate that a practice is followed not because it is Biblical law but because it helps avoid negative social consequences. |
Repairing the World (olive) |
Repairing the Vessel |
Spelunking, the dark side |
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Growth Rings: Ironbark, Eucalyptus slabs, fiber, and copper
18"h x 8"w x 1"d