Adult Education

Mussar is an ancient Jewish practice that evolved from traditional thinking, but in the past was a personal and private study. Mussar literally means moral conduct instruction or discipline. In the mid-1800s in Lithuania, to bring greater relevance into religion, Rabbi Israel Lipkin Salanter (1819-1883) reconstructed the study of Mussar. Mussar subsequently changed from a personal endeavor to become a popular social and spiritual practice.

 

The practice of Mussar involves study, discussion, implementation, and reflection. The study of individual values, such as humility, patience, faith, is well defined from the Jewish perspective; resources include Alan Morini's book Everyday Holiness, Greg Marcus' book The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions, and The Mussar Torah Commentary by Barry Block. 

 

At our meetings we begin with a short meditation, followed by discussion of the virtue (midah) of the month, its significance, and the consequences of practicing too much or too little of it. The emphasis is on practice and how to bring the study into mindfulness. We ask ourselves: How will we use what we have learned? How will we make ourselves mindful, so we opt for the best behavior in the appropriate context? The last part is personal, observe how you do with the virtue studied and keep a journal. Study, discussion, implementation, and reflection. We have identified sixteen virtues and discuss a new virtue each month. When we finish the cycle, we begin again, so you can enter the cycle at any time.

 

We meet on the third or fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00pm by Zoom (click here for event Zoom links). If you have any questions, email our office at office@beithav.org. Tentative dates and virtues are listed below:

 

August 21              Equanimity

September             -- no Mussar --

October 23           Truth

November 20      Honor

December 18      Gratitude