Moments of Mussar @ A Taste of Honey

Balancing Our Lenses: The Mussar movement in Judaism, says the Jewish Virtual Library, is defined as the education of the individual toward strict ethical behavior in the spirit of halakhah.

Wikipedia tells us:

The Musar movement (also Mussar movement) is a Jewish ethical, educational and cultural movement that developed in the 19th century in Eastern Europe, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. 

The Hebrew term Musar (מוּסַר), is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning moral conduct, instruction or discipline. The term was used by the Musar movement to refer to efforts to further ethical and spiritual discipline. 

The Musar Movement made significant contributions to Musar literature and Jewish Ethics. 

And the Mussar Institute further explains:

Mussar is a path of contemplative practices and exercises that have evolved over the past thousand years to help an individual soul to pinpoint and then to break through the barriers that surround and obstruct the flow of inner light in our lives. 

Mussar is a treasury of techniques and understandings that offers immensely valuable guidance for the journey of our lives. 

The Jewish community spawned Mussar to help people overcome the inner obstacles that hinder them from living up to the laws and commandments - the mitzvot - that form the code of life. 

That community tends to see Mussar as inseparable from its own beliefs and practices, but the human reality Mussar addresses is actually universal, and the gifts it offers can be used by all people.

Paula Amar Schwartz and Erin Tarica present a contemporary interpretation of the principles and practices of Mussar in their upcoming class at A Taste of Honey.
Paula and Erin say:

Life’s complexities emerge through the multiple lenses we bring to each of our experiences. Using the richness of the Mussar tradition, engage in conversation and meditation focused on listening to our true selves while maintaining awareness of the needs of others.

If this fascinating topic is simply not your cup of tea ....

A Taste of Honey has 19 more very interesting classes to choose from ....

Plus author Judith Fein!

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