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 such as patience (savlanut) or (trust) bitachon.
2026 - 27 CLASSES
Seeds of Mussar
Select Wednesdays | 6:30 - 8:00 PM | Zoom | RSVP
New to Mussar? Learn how to refine your character attributes to find fulfillment in your lives and the lives of others.
Taught by Barbara Rubin-Greenberg, this introductory Seeds class will focus on a method of refining our attributes so that they enable us to serve others with greater and greater joy. We work on our character attributes, not simply to take care of ourselves and enjoy more fulfilling lives, but to practice bearing responsibility for others.
*This class is designed for new students.
Cost: $180/person
Dates (2026): Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 28, Nov. 11 & 25, Dec. 9
New to Mussar? Learn how to refine your character attributes to find fulfillment in your lives and the lives of others.
Taught by Barbara Rubin-Greenberg, this introductory Seeds class will focus on a method of refining our attributes so that they enable us to serve others with greater and greater joy. We work on our character attributes, not simply to take care of ourselves and enjoy more fulfilling lives, but to practice bearing responsibility for others.
*This class is designed for new students.
Cost: $180/person
Dates (2026): Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 28, Nov. 11 & 25, Dec. 9
Teachers
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.