 Mussar, a daily spiritual practice based on an ethical concern for others does, in fact, tether that bridge between Jewish spirituality and religion. Developed in 18th century Eastern Europe, Mussar which literally means "discipline" offers practitioners a way of looking at the world which transforms everyday actions into moments of holiness.
"I wanted to feel more spiritual about my life," said Phyllis Jacobs, a student of Mussar Leadership, a program of Beth Zion Beth Israel in Philadelphia for the last four years. "But as a Jew I didn't really know exactly what that meant. With Mussar, I've discovered a Jewish spiritual discipline with guideposts and reminders that help me to look at what's important to me in the world, how I treat people. Mussar helps me to see something everyday that makes me feel like I am connected to something bigger than myself. In many ways, Mussar helps me to navigate my everyday life in a way that makes me more the person I really want to be."
The pursuit of spirituality, defined as living a life that seems to offer a sense of something "bigger than oneself," is a commonly expressed sentiment by those who attend the Mussar Leadership groups, held throughout the area and via videoconference in different parts of the country. The tenuous connection often raised is how does practicing Judaism as an individual or even in a minyan really set the groundwork for that spiritual connection?
"Mussar is an incredible impactful practice for all of us who are living in an ethically, spiritually bankrupt society," said Rabbi Ira Stone, who is considered one of the few contemporary Mussar theologians and authors in North America. The daily practice creates a very centered sense of mindfulness with regard to how we impact each other and the responsibility we must take for our own behavior and for each other. "Mussar is not the end but the beginning of a spiritual path," he added. "It is a compelling reason for people to reengage in classical Jewish text and practice in a way that is often missing in the non-orthodox world. And, I think through that engagement, we could actually save the world."
The practice of Mussar is "catching on." Synagogues of many different denominations have lectures, workshops and ongoing classes. At Mussar Leadership those classes are offered at synagogues and independent groups that are identified as Conservative, Jewish Renewal, Reconstructionist, Reform and unaffiliated. Currently there is also a group of Rabbis in LA who are studying Mussar for their personal and communal development as well as training to be facilitators of the practice.
Many group participants said that their connection to Judaism has deepened as a result of attending Mussar groups. "As part of this group, my level of study and interest in Judaism has certainly increased," said Carol Daniels, who is training to be a Mussar madrich or group leader. "I now study Torah and have a daily reflection of gratitude that has allowed me to use my own religion as a guide in my life that wasn't available to me before."
In addition to the benefit of becoming much more mindful about the responsibility a person has to society as a whole and to the individuals around him or her, participants say that the experience has given them a much deeper connection of community.
For Martin Jacobs who participates in a Mussar Leadership group at Or Hadash in Ft. Washington, what has been most valuable is finding connections with others and opening himself up to share the experiences of day-to-day life in a very safe, supportive environment. "The insights others are able to give me about how I choose to live and act give me a very different viewpoint than I have by myself," he said. His fellow group member Marianne Adler agrees. "The group is key," she said. "When I miss it I don't like it. Being part of the group is essential because I get to listen to everybody else and everybody has different things to work on and everybody brings something different to the group."
Mussar Leadership groups are held at Beth Zion Beth Israel in center city and around the area. For more information, email info@Mussarleadership.org or call 215-735-5148.
Additionally, Reclaiming Judaism is offering distance-learning certification programs for Jewish Educators that incorporate training in Mussar title 3 Mmm: Maggid, Mitzvah and Mussar. |
— by Miki Young
