“Erev rav versus tikkun olam” is a point of view, or an expression coined by Chaim Jeshurun.
A long time ago, when the Israelites left Egypt, a big group of other people went with them. This group was called the Erev Rav, which means a “mixed crowd.”
Moses thought it would be a good idea to let them come along. He believed he could help them grow and become better people, but later traditions say that this didn’t work out the way he hoped.
Some stories also say that Moses comes back again and again, like a hidden helper, appearing among people from time to time.
Other traditions say that the Erev Rav caused problems and made things harder for the Israelites, even slowing down the time when everyone would come back together again.
The word “erev” in Erev Rav means “mixed” or “blended together.” But “erev” can also mean “evening.” Some people wonder if they were called Erev Rav not only because they were a mixed group, but also because they all left Egypt together at night.
In the Hebrew Bible, rav means:
- “many” or “great”
- something large in quantity or importance
Example:
- Erev Rav = “a great/mixed multitude”
In later Jewish tradition, “Rav” becomes a title meaning:
- “teacher” or “master”
- similar to “rabbi,” but with some historical differences
In modern usage, rav can still mean:
- “a lot” or “many” (like saying “much”)
- and in religious contexts, a rabbi (especially in Israeli Hebrew)
Simple summary
- Rav (basic): “many” or “great”
- Rav (title): “teacher” / “rabbi”
So in Erev Rav, it carries the “many/multitude” meaning—not the “rabbi” meaning.
Some people say that today, the Erev Rav are mixed in with the Jewish people, so you can’t really tell who is who.
There are also stories from wise teachers that say something a little surprising. They say that even if someone is Jewish because their mother is Jewish, some believe that person could still have a soul that’s like the Erev Rav. Also, a convert could happen to be of an Erev rav soul.
That idea can sound a little scary, but it’s just something some people believe and talk about in stories and teachings.
What about Tikkun olam? What does it mean?
Tikkun olam (תיקון עולם) is a Hebrew phrase that means “repairing the world.”
What it means
- Tikkun (תיקון) = fixing, repairing, improving
- Olam (עולם) = world
So together, it means making the world better.
Where the idea comes from
The phrase appears in Jewish texts like the Mishnah, where it originally referred to rules made to keep society fair and orderly.
Later, in Jewish mysticism—especially the Zohar—it took on a deeper meaning:
- The world is seen as broken in some way
- People help restore and heal it through good actions
What it means today
Today, tikkun olam is often used to describe:
- Doing kind deeds
- Helping others
- Working for justice, peace, and fairness
Simple way to understand it
It’s like saying:
“We all have a job to help fix what’s wrong and make the world a kinder, better place.”
All in all, the way the world looks today, we’re in a spiritual warfare against the Erev rav, let’s hope it not turns physical. Be humble.