Application Form to Become a Mussar Institute Va'ad Facilitator

Manchim — Training for Mussar Group Leaders

The Mussar Institute offers courses, programs and events to promote the learning and practice of Mussar. Over the last several years, the Institute has grown significantly and now has a community of over 4,000 people. Courses are offered both online and in person and each of these modalities includes group (va'ad) meetings. Our experience has shown that these va'adim are more productive if led by a qualified facilitator.

Therefore, The Mussar Institute is offering a program to train and certify va'ad facilitators who can apply their skills to leading Mussar groups within the programs of The Mussar Institute. The intention is that the certified facilitators will see this activity as Divinely-oriented social service and will join the ranks of the Mussar Institute board and many others who volunteer their time to promote and support Mussar practice.

Who Should Apply

Any person with a Jewish background and a sincere desire to engage deeply in their own Mussar work, and to help others move down their own spiritual path. Anyone interested in supporting the operations of Mussar groups in programs offered by The Mussar Institute. Facilitators should be mature, stable and capable of functioning with flexibility and patience in a community predicated on openness, honesty and inquiry.

Prerequisites:

Candidates must have completed a minimum of two courses of study at The Mussar Institute and at least one year of active Mussar practice or the equivalent Mussar learning and practice in other contexts. Exceptions to this minimum background will be made in cases where special circumstances warrant dispensation.

The Certificate:

Upon successful completion of all the requirements of the three week Intensive Period and the 6 month Support Period, and based on assessments by the program managers at several points in the program, approved graduates will be granted a certificate from The Mussar Institute.

What Will Be Required From You:

The course is focused around a series of podcasts that will be made available over a three week period. In addition, you will be assigned a chevruta and also participate in a supervised va'ad (via telephone conference). There will also be opportunities to receive feedback and probe more deeply through an assigned coach and also by way of a mid-way report. It is also expected that you have your own daily Mussar practice. When you complete the initial intensive period within the program and your pilot va’ad, your first and second reflection papers will help determine your strengths and show how you will best be able to enhance your social service through facilitation of The Mussar Institute's programs. Your final paper will be an evaluation of your experiences during the Manchim Program.

Tuition:

Participation in this pilot will require a payment of $290 / student. Payment must be made prior to the start of the program by PayPal or check. For those who receive notice of acceptance into the program, details will also be provided on how to make a PayPal payment.

Curriculum

The training program consists of three parts:

A series of three podcasts, one per week, addressing the following topics:
1. Your personal soul curriculum – Focusing on humility (anavah) and honor (kavod), two middot which are essential for being a facilitator. You will be practicing cheshbon ha’nefesh, including study questions, journaling, and kabbalot (exercises)
2. Community relationships as Mussar practice – Creating the context for facilitating a va’ad as a community in which your service provides rich opportunity for working on your own soul curriculum
3. Principles and practices for facilitating a va’ad – using material from Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe and organizational development experts, you’ll learn about the basic orientation and approach to Mussar practice in a va’ad.
Reading assignments – For each podcast, you’ll be provided with a transcript of the podcast plus 10-20 pages of source texts.
Support – led by an experienced course leader.
Weekly trainee va’ad teleconference, during the three week initial training period to discuss the podcast, then monthly teleconference to discuss your experience in the va’ad you are facilitating.
Written reports which will be read and commented upon by a course leader. You will also be expected to complete a final evaluation.
Coaching – for specific issues that cannot be handled in the monthly va’ad teleconference, an experienced va’ad facilitator is available on an as-needed basis.

Where to Send the Completed Application Form:

Please complete this form online or email your completed form to: manchim@mussarinstitute.org .

Applications are being accepted and the closing date will be announced.

Application Details:
(fields denoted with a * are required)

PART 1

Name

Mailing Address

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Home Tel.

E-mail

What is your knowledge of the following subjects on a scale of 0-3:

0 = No prior knowledge; 1 = Beginner; 2 = Intermediate; 3 = Advanced

	0	1	2	3
Mussar writings
Mussar practice
Facilitation experience
Jewish philosophical thought

Which Mussar Institute courses or other Mussar training have you completed?

For how many years have you been involved in your own Mussar practice?

Please describe in detail any facilitation experience you have had.

What interests you in this program?
(Include what you hope to give and what you hope to receive)

Please provide a short summary of your own spiritual growth path and how it had led you to this point of considering being a facilitator. Why is now the right time for you to be a facilitator?

How would you describe your skills in both listening and being heard?

Anything else you feel we should know?

Finally, please include a letter of reference from someone (other than family members, directors or staff of the Mussar Institute, or anyone playing a role in the Manchim Program) who is familiar with your character and commitment to spiritual growth. In some cases, a phone interview may be requested, so please provide that person's contact information.

If a letter of recommendation can’t be attached to your application, please email, or have the letter emailed, to manchim@mussarinstitute.org as soon as possible. Please indicate in the box below when and from whom you expect the letter to arrive.

You will be notified about whether you have been accepted to the program very soon after the application deadline. Thank you so much for considering this program and helping strengthen the practice of Mussar.

PART 2

You will be matched with a learning partner (chevruta) for the short duration of this course and expected to be in touch with each other at least once a week. Do you have any preferences or restrictions in matching?

Gender:
Age preference:
Geography/time zone:
Religious denomination:

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