Chevrah: The Mussar Va’ad Facilitators Fellowship
Application for Membership
Thank you for applying to Chevrah: The Mussar Va’ad Facilitators Fellowship. Here is an overview of what you can expect to experience if you are accepted to the program. In addition to insightful webinars and podcasts you will participate in a three-session series of supervision meetings for each group you lead:
Personal Supervision
Personal supervision includes two components: individual supervision sessions and peer group supervision as explained earlier.
TMI’s approach to supervision is based on the belief that effective Mussar va’ad leaders are self-aware Mussar practitioners and that leadership is a form of Mussar practice. Supervision is more concerned with the quality of the leader’s inner life than with specific techniques of group leadership.
Groups run best when the leader is self aware and working on issues that get in the way of being completely present as the facilitator of a va’ad. Questions of technique (dealing with dominating group members, reframing comments, etc.) are important but secondary to the facilitator’s own middot work related to the group. Questions of technique will be addressed by the coach and in additional training.
Session 1: Pre-group session
Chevrah members prepare for this session by completing a personal middot inventory that identifies what s/he anticipates will be key areas of growth while leading. The facilitator will also create a personal education plan that includes Mussar text learning, practice and training in group facilitation, if needed. This inventory and plan will be sent in advance of the meeting for review by the supervisor.
In the first session the supervisor reviews the inventory and learning plan with the supervisee. This session will focus on discussing the middot that the supervisee anticipates will be key for his/her leadership of the group. Issues of technique can also be addressed at this time.
Session 2: Mid-group session
Chevrah members prepare for this session by keeping a journal about each group session. TMI provides guiding questions for this journal that help leaders reflect on the group experience. Chevrah members send a summary of these journal entries to the supervisor in advance of the second session. TMI provides a template for this mid-course reflection summary.
In the mid-course session the supervisor checks-in about each facilitator’s progress with his or her learning plan. The session will focus on each facilitator’s perceptions of their spiritual growth and challenges leading their va’ad. The discussion should include personal goals for the second half of the group as well as a few minutes discussing issues of technique.
Session 3: Post-group session
Chevrah members prepare for this session by writing a summary reflection provided by TMI and sending this reflection in advance to their supervisor.
This session is a self-evaluation of the group experience. Discussion focuses on successes and areas for future growth. A discussion of practical next steps in leadership including future va’ad leadership and other Mussar learning and practice will also be included.
The Coach:
Each Chevrah member has access to a coach, who s/he can spontaneously call on an “as needed” basis with practical questions about group leadership. Since supervision is oriented toward personal growth, the coach provides an important source of assistance for issues of technique—e.g., how to reframe, how to deal with dominating group members, etc. These are the types of questions that produce the most anxiety for new facilitators. Coaches provide practical support for group-dynamic issues, problems, debriefing, and other concerns whenever they may arise.
Network oversight:
TMI’s Group Leadership Development Team (Felice Joyce, Rabbis Amy Eilberg, David Jaffe, Ted Riter and Nancy Wechsler-Aizen) oversees the success of the Chevrah under the direction of the TMI Board. Oversight includes a mid-year and end of year review and periodic reports to the TMI Executive Committee.
Registration Form
Please complete this form online or email your completed form to: chevrah@mussarinstitute.org.
Enrollment is on-going.
Application Details:
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