Tikkun Olam and the Medicine Game

Abby Sheklow — January 28, 2023

There are very few Hebrew expressions that are as well known in the Jewish American community as “Tikkun Olam.” Translated to “repair the world,” it is often understood as the idea that Jewish people have been called upon to make the world a more tolerant, peaceful and just place.

What do the idea of Tikkun Olam and the game of lacrosse have in common? 

“On our team at Clemson, we always say how lacrosse is a medicine game,” Hanna Hilcoff, a player on Clemson’s inaugural Women’s Lacrosse team and an attacker for Israel Lacrosse, said. 

Lacrosse was created by Native Americans as early as 1100 AD and became well established in the 17th century, according to History. The game was much more than a sport; it had a deep-rooted spiritual significance to everyone involved.

Centuries later, it remains a symbol of healing and change.

“This bond and love for the sport gives me a vision of lacrosse as a way to bring different communities together,” Hilcoff said.

Lacrosse is a medicine game because, in more ways than one, it heals those who are connected to it. The mind, body, soul and spirit of participants are nourished through their involvement in the sport. Together, the idiom of Tikkun Olam and the game of lacrosse encourage people to become an active member of the world around them and encourage action to make it a better place.

Hanna Hilcoff considers herself lucky enough to be a part of both the Jewish community and lacrosse community. She recently had the opportunity to combine both worlds, representing Israel Lacrosse at the Women’s World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in July 2022.

“It gave me a whole new perspective on lacrosse. It’s so much bigger than me. It’s bigger than Clemson Lacrosse. It’s bigger than the NCAA – it’s global,” Hilcoff said. “It’s become something that connects people around the world through their love of the game.”

Before joining the team in Birmingham, Hilcoff had the opportunity to travel to Israel where she immersed herself in the culture and played alongside Israelis on one of the few lacrosse fields in the entire country.

She was astonished with the Israelis innate love for the game and incredibly thankful for the experience.

“I’ll forever be grateful that I went to Israel before I played in the World Games because I felt so honored leaving the country. I couldn’t wait to represent the awesome people I had met,” Hilcoff said.

Hilcoff did not grow up in a traditional Jewish American household. She did not have a bat mitzvah and although as a child she attended synagogue regularly, around middle school her attendance would slowly come to a halt. 

However, being able to visit Israel and represent the country on a national stage gave Hilcoff a newfound pride and insight into her Jewish background.

“I feel like being a part of Team Israel has tied me back into my religion. I am so grateful to be reimmersed in the culture that my parents and grandparents introduced me to as a kid,” Hilcoff said.

Yet, at a time when Hilcoff was reconnecting with her Jewish identity, it became impossible to ignore the rising antisemitism in the world.

This is part of a tweet by famous rapper Kanye West from October 2022. At the time, West had over 18 million followers. While this tweet came after the Women’s World Games, it represents the many antisemitic views and acts that have been building for years.

Team Israel had to take precautions.

“At the World Games, we were advised not to wear Team Israel gear outside of the venue for our safety… I couldn’t wear that across my chest in fear that irrational people would act out towards me for being Jewish,” Hilcoff said.

This was not the first time Hilcoff felt the impact of antisemitism.

“My sister goes to the University of Florida. During a football game someone projected, ‘Kanye was right about the Jews,’ in big writing across the front of the stadium,” she said.

For Hilcoff and others, it is difficult to find a sense of belonging when hatred can surface simply because of genetic makeup or religious background. From tweets and football games to far worse events of the past, antisemitism has a deep rooted history in the world.

How can a difference be made against it, or any kind of hate for that matter? 

A shared love of sports has an equally storied past and has proven its ability to cross religious and cultural boundaries to bring people together. Hilcoff has seen this firsthand.

“The lacrosse community is very accepting of everyone no matter background, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation… we’re all united by this game.” she said. “Even with being a new program at Clemson, we’ve already created such a great environment of team culture that emphasizes inclusivity and the idea that we are all a family.”

As the sport of lacrosse has grown, it has provided a huge platform to spread healing and inclusivity through awareness and support of many different causes, and across many diverse communities.

From her own experience, Hilcoff encourages teams to find a cause.  

“Dedicate a game to Pride, dedicate a game to Black Lives Matter, we can do so much more… If we’re actively supporting movements and being accepting, it doesn’t stop after just one game.”

Lacrosse, the medicine game, allows the chance to plant the seeds of a better world, one that can be healed and repaired.

It has been said the game is played not for the individual or personal gain, but to honor The Creator, who Native Americans believe gifted them the game of lacrosse. This is a sentiment bigger than just one person, bigger than a team, bigger than the entire lacrosse community. 

It is mitzvah, a good deed. It is Tikkun Olam.