Social work, social justice, Judaism and tikkun olam

This paper explores the relationship among Reform Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam and social work. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part explores how social work is - or is not - defined, how there is an unresolved dichotomy between reform-oriented and practice-oriented social work, and how social work is taught and practiced. In the second part, the paper explores the Judaic concept of tikkun olam and its connection to social justice. The third and final part summarizes the discussion and attempts to explain how the paper's perspective on social work is congruent with Judaism's notion of tikkun olam and social justice. In doing this, the paper draws on thought expressed through the songs of Leonard Cohen.