The meanings of two foundational Hebrew terms - *tz'dakah* and *tikkun olam* - have undergone dramatic transformation in modern Jewish education, shifting from specific religious obligations to broad social action catchphrases. Between 1970-2008, these terms evolved far beyond their original definitions: *tz'dakah* expanded from designated financial duties to the poor into general charitable giving, while *tikkun olam* transformed from discrete legal and mystical applications into a universal call for world repair. Through comprehensive analysis of Jewish philosophical, educational, and reference works, supplemented by examination of biblical, rabbinic, and kabbalistic sources, this research tracks these semantic changes across denominational boundaries. The terms gained particular prominence during the 1980s American Jewish social activism movements, but their popularization has created significant educational challenges. As these concepts become "aggadic banners" divorced from their precise traditional meanings, they risk undermining the very moral obligations they aim to promote. Rather than relying on these loosely constructed modern interpretations, Jewish educators would better serve their students by returning to historically grounded, clearly defined traditional concepts that accurately convey authentic Jewish values and practices.