Mussar: A Thoughtful Way of Interacting with the World Around Us

Mussar is a ‘genre’ of Jewish learning and practice that focuses on ethical behavior. Over three sessions we will explore three different soul traits (Anavah – Taking Up Space, Histapkut – Enoughness, and Hachna’ah – Yielding) and use them to engage in mindfulness and personal transformation. This course is designed as a three-part series, and each session will also stand on its own (in other words, register even if you can’t make all three!).

In October, we will undertake a brief introduction to Mussar including its history and purpose. The soul trait of Anavah, literally translated as humility, will be studied as a way to examine how much “space” we are taking up in the world around us. I

n November we will devote our learning to Histapkut, literally translated as simplicity, and discuss the ways we do or don’t find satisfaction in our lives.

In December we turn to Hachna’ah, literally translated as submission, and explore those things to which we submit and those to which we must not.