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In This Issue

Welcome –Carol Robinson
Through A Mussar Lens – By Alan Morinis
Everyday Holiness: The Course – By Shirah Bell
Donations
Upcoming Events and Announcements

Shanah Tovah

As I write this welcome, the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) are drawing near. Hayom harat olam—Today is the day of the world's creation. This prayer reminds us that Rosh Hashanah is a day of renewal. This is the time when we are meant to do a cheshbon ha'nefesh, an accounting of the soul. Through personal honesty, introspection and reflection, we can recognize where we have fallen short and take steps to repair damaged relationships.

Communities and organizations can also engage in the work of renewal. My co-president, Jeff Agron and I have shared with you the work that the Board is doing to renew the Mussar Institute, especially the planning process. We conducted our first survey to learn about your needs, ideas and thoughts for the future. We have done an accounting of all aspects of TMI in order to foster the learning and practice of Mussar through courses and community. Through the articles written by Alan Morinis, Len Felson (Yashar editor) and a number of TMI students and facilitators, we have shared Mussar with the hundreds of thousands of readers of the Fall 2008 edition of Reform Judaism. And in this time of limited resources, we have engaged in a financial cheshbon (accounting) as well as we seek to find the means to grow in our service to all the souls who would benefit from contact with Mussar.

We look forward to a year of renewal for you, your communities and for the Mussar Institute. We thank you for your support and engagement in Mussar work.

L'Shanah Tova Tekatevu v'Techatmu,

Carol Robinson
Co-President

By Alan Morinis

Hope is in the air. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer many lessons and opportunities, and among them is the hopeful message that spiritual renewal is always possible. As we experience this holy season, we are also in the midst of election campaigns in both Canada and the U.S. The messages from all camps are aimed at inspiring hope. Maybe the dark period is ending. Maybe the housing crisis has bottomed out. Maybe new priorities are finally about to be asserted. Maybe what seems to have been madness has spent itself, and sanity will return to the land.

Read entire article.

By Shirah Bell, Director of Everyday Holiness Program

What Mussar Teaches Us About The Politics of Speech

We are inundated by a tsunami of articles, Internet communications, talk shows, radio interviews and general chitchat about the candidates whom are running in the U.S. Presidential election. Much of what is said is gossip, some true and some false. It is difficult to see evidence of constraints on what people say and/or pass on to others. But is that right? Can we find help in navigating the treacherous waters of political speech from Mussar teachings?

Read entire article.

The Mussar Institute depends on the generosity of supporters. Please consider making a donation to honor someone or to remember a loved one.

Houston Jewish Community Fund
Caroline Isaacs
Felice Joyce
Ellen Rosenblum

Donations gratefully accepted here.

The announcements are so plentiful this month, we had to put them on the website!

Please click below to read the announcements in full.

Mussar in the News
Mussar Group Facilitators Training Program
Mussar Kallah VI
The Mussar Shabbaton
New Mussar Groups