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In This Issue
Welcome - By Carol Robinson
Through A Mussar Lens – By Alan Morinis
Everyday Holiness: The Course – By Shirah
Bell
How Mussar Affected My Life: A Student Profile – By
Ginette Daniels
Volunteer Opportunity
Donations
Upcoming Events and Announcements
Welcome to the December issue of Yashar. As new co-president of The
Mussar Institute, I wanted to say how honored I am to serve this important
organization. Mussar study has provided me insight into the work I
need to do to refine my middot, or character traits, and to
draw closer to G-d. Like many of you, my initial involvement with Mussar
was with study. Over time I came to understand that Mussar isn’t
just about learning; it’s about how we live in the world and
our relationship with G-d.
Alan Morinis teaches that each of us has a curriculum, and I think
this is a useful concept. I didn’t set out to serve as a Mussar
facilitator, but the opportunity came to me with the Seasons of Mussar va’ad at
Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland, Calif. I certainly didn’t
expect to teach about Mussar to larger groups, but again the opportunity
came my way when I was invited to teach at a recent Pacific Region
Shabbaton. And I didn’t expect to become involved in the management
of the Mussar Institute, but that too appears to be on my curriculum
since the first the opportunity came when I was asked to serve on the
board and now to serve as co-president.
What’s on my mind this month is the future. The board has a
vision of TMI as an organization that fosters the learning and practice
of Mussar within the Jewish community through education, action,
community and relationship-building. The community is seen as
global and transcending denominations.
We are all familiar with the TMI of education, whether through the
original Mussar classes, Everyday Holiness or Seasons of Mussar. But
we are only at the beginning of community-building. So what might a
Mussar community look like? The Kallah is certainly one opportunity
for us to connect as a community. Becoming more involved with one another
through study, celebrating holidays or doing tzedakah together
are others. Sharing Mussar with others, whether at synagogues or other
Jewish venues is another.
This is a chance for you to share your thoughts. What does the idea
of a Mussar community mean to you and can you think of ways that you
can contribute to building it? We look forward to hearing your thoughts
and working together to grow our Mussar community. You may contact
me at info@mussarinstitute.org.
Carol Robinson
Co-President
The Mussar Institute
By Alan Morinis
I am home now after spending most of the last six month touring with
my new book, “Everyday Holiness.” I visited 44 cities in
three countries and gave over 100 talks. During that time and in those
many places, I experienced people being Jewish in widely differing
ways. I’d like to share with you some glimpses of the diversity
I saw, as well as unifying factors.
Read
entire article.
Is E-mail a Help or a Hindrance?
By Shirah Bell, Director of Everyday Holiness Program
Besides being a medium for teaching Mussar, the Internet, and email
specifically, can sometimes provide us opportunities to work on our
soul traits or middot. Here’s one true story:
A few days ago a private Mussar client who I’ll call “Sally” asked
for help with an email exchange with someone I’ll call “John,” a
fellow student in an interpersonal communications class she was taking.
“I can’t be around John since this happened,” she
said, explaining how upset she felt. She sent me the email
exchange and I asked her to reflect on which middot or inner traits
she thought her exchange triggered.
Read
entire article.
By Ginette Daniels
About a year ago, as I began preparations for teaching a series of
mini-classes on Proverbs at my Temple, my Rabbi and mentor asked if
I had ever studied Mussar. She told me that Alan Morinis was coming
to teach this Fall at our Temple and that I should see what the study
of Mussar could add to my spiritual practice and to my class. I promptly
devoured both of Alan’s books and discovered the online class
as well. I realized that Proverbs was what I would consider the first
Mussar text, a type of how-to manual on living a life of integrity
and studying Mussar did indeed complement my research.
Read
entire article.
Communicate With Prisoners
Last month we invited volunteers to link up with people in prison
who are seeking to explore Mussar and want a partner to share their
journey. Two people volunteered and each has now been introduced to
a Jewish inmate for this purpose.
We have one more inmate waiting for a partner, and will likely have
more requests as well. Do you have the time to write a note every two
weeks or so to help guide a soul seeking to find light from within
a very dark place?
Please be in touch with info@mussarinstitute.org to
volunteer or find out more.
The Mussar Institute depends on the generosity of supporters,
and gratefully acknowledges the following donations this month:
Anonymous
Gary J. Yarus
Donations
gratefully accepted here.
Alan's Book Tour Schedule for December and January
Due to popular demand, Alan is packing his bags again and will be
on the road to some wonderful communities for his book tour. Please
check the calendar to
ensure you don’t miss his speaking engagements in your community
in December and January.
Charlottesville, VA,
Kew Garden Hills, NY
Cherry Hill, NJ
Toms River, NJ
Limmud - NY at the Nevele in the Catskills
Stamford, CT
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