What is Mussar
Mussar is the study of one's inner middot (soul traits). It is the Jewish spiritual practice to work on character development through the lens of traditional Jewish text and sources, as reflected through various middot/ soul traits such as patience (savlanut) or (trust) bitachon.
2024-25 Classes
Introduction to Mussar
Teachers: Heidi Schneider and Barbara Rubin-Greenberg
Tuesdays | Oct 29, Nov. 12 & 26, Dec 10 & 17, Jan 7 & 21, Feb. 4 & 18, March 4 & 18, April 8 & 22, May 6 & 20 | 4-5:30pm | Zoom | $180 | Click here to Register
Prerequisite: None
Required Materials: Included in class fee and provided by teachers
This class examines a variety of ways a Mussar practice can function in our lives, offering ethical values and other tools to guide us. Using curriculum from The Center for Contemporary Mussar (CCM), we will explore a spiritual path of contemplative exercises and text study to create personal transformation and deepen our connection with self, others, community, and the Divine. Classes include instructor-led sessions approximately every other week. During the alternate weeks, students will have assigned readings and will meet with their study partners to discuss the assigned readings. Study partners, or chevruta, are assigned by the teachers with input from the students.
Teachers: Heidi Schneider and Barbara Rubin-Greenberg
Tuesdays | Oct 29, Nov. 12 & 26, Dec 10 & 17, Jan 7 & 21, Feb. 4 & 18, March 4 & 18, April 8 & 22, May 6 & 20 | 4-5:30pm | Zoom | $180 | Click here to Register
Prerequisite: None
Required Materials: Included in class fee and provided by teachers
This class examines a variety of ways a Mussar practice can function in our lives, offering ethical values and other tools to guide us. Using curriculum from The Center for Contemporary Mussar (CCM), we will explore a spiritual path of contemplative exercises and text study to create personal transformation and deepen our connection with self, others, community, and the Divine. Classes include instructor-led sessions approximately every other week. During the alternate weeks, students will have assigned readings and will meet with their study partners to discuss the assigned readings. Study partners, or chevruta, are assigned by the teachers with input from the students.
Mussar for Everyday Holiness
Presented in partnership with Twin Cities Mussar
Teacher: Ofer Geller
Sundays | Nov 10 & 24, Dec 8 & 22, Jan 5 & 19, Feb 2 & 16, Mar 2, 16 & 30, April 6 | 4-6pm | In-Person at Adath | $300 | Click here to Register
Prerequisite: Open to all, whether new to Mussar or with prior experience
Required Materials (purchase separately): Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinins
Attendance Note: Please plan to attend at least 90% of sessions
Explore personal characteristics, or middot, through Mussar, the Jewish tradition of ethical development. This course will use
Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis, founder of The Mussar Institute, to guide our study and practice.
What You Will Gain:
Self-Awareness and Growth: Develop and refine traits that promote peace, compassion and joy.
Practical Application: Learn how to integrate Jewish wisdom into daily life and improve relationships with others, yourself and God.
Community Engagement: Participate in a supportive group environment with a focus on personal and communal growth.
Join us for a transformative journey toward everyday holiness and deeper spiritual connection.
Presented in partnership with Twin Cities Mussar
Teacher: Ofer Geller
Sundays | Nov 10 & 24, Dec 8 & 22, Jan 5 & 19, Feb 2 & 16, Mar 2, 16 & 30, April 6 | 4-6pm | In-Person at Adath | $300 | Click here to Register
Prerequisite: Open to all, whether new to Mussar or with prior experience
Required Materials (purchase separately): Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinins
Attendance Note: Please plan to attend at least 90% of sessions
Explore personal characteristics, or middot, through Mussar, the Jewish tradition of ethical development. This course will use
Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis, founder of The Mussar Institute, to guide our study and practice.
What You Will Gain:
Self-Awareness and Growth: Develop and refine traits that promote peace, compassion and joy.
Practical Application: Learn how to integrate Jewish wisdom into daily life and improve relationships with others, yourself and God.
Community Engagement: Participate in a supportive group environment with a focus on personal and communal growth.
Join us for a transformative journey toward everyday holiness and deeper spiritual connection.
Mussar for Sustainable Communities
Presented by the Center for Contemporary Mussar (CCM)
Teacher: Hope Melton
Mondays | October 21-December 10 | 6-7:30pm | Zoom | $200 | Registration Closed
Prerequisite: This class is for students with previous Mussar experience
Required Materials (purchase separately): Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt
This course will widen our Mussar “lens” from the sphere of our closest others to the community or societal level. We will observe how the tension between the yetzer harah (evil inclination) and the yetzer hatov (good inclination) manifests at the societal level by focusing primarily on individualism, structural racism, and inequality; the paradigm or mindset that creates and drives them and their consequences for society.
This class is being administered by CCM. For questions about the class, email [email protected]
Presented by the Center for Contemporary Mussar (CCM)
Teacher: Hope Melton
Mondays | October 21-December 10 | 6-7:30pm | Zoom | $200 | Registration Closed
Prerequisite: This class is for students with previous Mussar experience
Required Materials (purchase separately): Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt
This course will widen our Mussar “lens” from the sphere of our closest others to the community or societal level. We will observe how the tension between the yetzer harah (evil inclination) and the yetzer hatov (good inclination) manifests at the societal level by focusing primarily on individualism, structural racism, and inequality; the paradigm or mindset that creates and drives them and their consequences for society.
This class is being administered by CCM. For questions about the class, email [email protected]
Teacher Bios
Ofer Geller
Ofer has been a student of Mussar at Adath Jeshurun since 2019 and continues to explore this path of spiritual growth in Judaism at Adath and through classes taught by The Mussar Institute. “I have found the practice of Mussar to be a profound personal awakening, transformative and meaningful experience. I am very excited to share what I have learned as we study and find new, unique personal connections with ancient texts."
Hope Melton
Hope is an experienced Mussar facilitator with over 30 years of teaching experience including high school history and social studies, English and Swedish for Immigrants with the Swedish Civil Service Adult Education Institute, and as adjunct faculty at St. Catherine and St. Thomas Universities. Hope completed an MA in American History from Northwestern University and a Masters in City & Regional Planning (MCRP), with a concentration in social policy, from Rutgers University. Hope created Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing and has led this effort in Edina for the past five years. As a result of three years of study with CCM, Hope’s Mussar teaching is dedicated to caring for the other—at the individual, community, and societal levels. Her goal is to promote a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society based on Mussar study (Jewish ethical values), sacred teachings, and practices.
Barbara Rubin Greenberg
Barbara is a CCM-certified Madrichah, who was introduced to CCM when Rabbi Ira Stone spoke at Adath. Barbara has studied Mussar for seven years and continues to study with Mussar teachers. Barbara is a certified leadership coach with certifications in emotional intelligence and personality type (MBTI). Barbara has found Mussar to be inspirational and an incredibly effective practice to develop oneself and grow through a Jewish framework. She is committed and passionate about caring for others and helping them grow through Mussar Practice. We live in relationship all the time and Mussar helps us develop ourselves and create healthier relationships that reflect care of self and our nearest others.
Heidi Schneider
Heidi is a CCM-certified Madrichah, who was introduced to CCM when Rabbi Ira Stone conducted a Shabbaton at Adath. Heidi has studied with CCM for over five years, and she serves on the CCM board of directors. Heidi teaches Mussar classes to adults and teens at Adath Jeshurun and Tifereth Israel in Des Moines, Iowa. She keeps the passuk for the middah of Bitachon on a post-it note on her desk to remind her that worry is an opportunity to seek out the other and reconnect in serenity.
Ofer has been a student of Mussar at Adath Jeshurun since 2019 and continues to explore this path of spiritual growth in Judaism at Adath and through classes taught by The Mussar Institute. “I have found the practice of Mussar to be a profound personal awakening, transformative and meaningful experience. I am very excited to share what I have learned as we study and find new, unique personal connections with ancient texts."
Hope Melton
Hope is an experienced Mussar facilitator with over 30 years of teaching experience including high school history and social studies, English and Swedish for Immigrants with the Swedish Civil Service Adult Education Institute, and as adjunct faculty at St. Catherine and St. Thomas Universities. Hope completed an MA in American History from Northwestern University and a Masters in City & Regional Planning (MCRP), with a concentration in social policy, from Rutgers University. Hope created Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing and has led this effort in Edina for the past five years. As a result of three years of study with CCM, Hope’s Mussar teaching is dedicated to caring for the other—at the individual, community, and societal levels. Her goal is to promote a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society based on Mussar study (Jewish ethical values), sacred teachings, and practices.
Barbara Rubin Greenberg
Barbara is a CCM-certified Madrichah, who was introduced to CCM when Rabbi Ira Stone spoke at Adath. Barbara has studied Mussar for seven years and continues to study with Mussar teachers. Barbara is a certified leadership coach with certifications in emotional intelligence and personality type (MBTI). Barbara has found Mussar to be inspirational and an incredibly effective practice to develop oneself and grow through a Jewish framework. She is committed and passionate about caring for others and helping them grow through Mussar Practice. We live in relationship all the time and Mussar helps us develop ourselves and create healthier relationships that reflect care of self and our nearest others.
Heidi Schneider
Heidi is a CCM-certified Madrichah, who was introduced to CCM when Rabbi Ira Stone conducted a Shabbaton at Adath. Heidi has studied with CCM for over five years, and she serves on the CCM board of directors. Heidi teaches Mussar classes to adults and teens at Adath Jeshurun and Tifereth Israel in Des Moines, Iowa. She keeps the passuk for the middah of Bitachon on a post-it note on her desk to remind her that worry is an opportunity to seek out the other and reconnect in serenity.