Jews didn’t always use the phrase tikkun olam so globally. In the Mishnah, the Rabbis of the 3rd century used the phrase tikkun olam in the context of “insuring a safeguard to those who may be at a disadvantage.” In the 16th century, Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria referred to tikkun olam as “repairs performed on an individual level” (Jennifer Noparstack, learningtogive.org).

There’s no start or end point for tikkun olam. Judaism’s notion of mitzvot, “good deeds,” can’t be compartmentalized—crammed into our daily schedule between soccer practice and dinner. When’s your next opportunity to repair the world? You repair the world whenever your friends are gossiping, and you choose to ignore their barbs about others. You repair the world when your friend couldn’t help you because he was busy, and you don’t spite him by using that excuse against him when he asks you for help. You repair the world when your parents are frustrating you, and you remind yourself, “my God, my religion, orders me to respect my parents,” and you show restraint with your words. There are probably 1,000 opportunities in a day to repair the world—if only we quit getting stuck on feeling like we need to march for Darfur to do something “good.”

Mother Teresa said, and the Torah would agree, “there are no great things, only small things with great love.”