Adult Mussar

Explore the Jewish spiritual practice of Mussar by focusing on a different virtue, or middah, each session.

Mussar became a movement with actual practices for cultivating character under the leadership of Rabbi Israel Salanter during the nineteenth century. The Mussar movement came to be in part because its founder Rabbi Salanter was concerned that the yeshivot of his time were training Torah scholars who were devoid of menschlikheit, of good decent character. He wanted Torah learning to be applied to character development so that students might become wise and compassionate, not merely learned. 

The Chai Mitzvah Mussar curriculum features 12 beautifully illustrated sourcebooks featuring texts to spark meaningful discussions, and practices to cultivate each middah.

MUSSAR TOPICS: Wisdom/Chochma, Generosity/N’divut, Compassion/Rachamim, Spiritual Friendship/Chevruta, Equanimity/Menuchat HaNefesh, Order/Seder, Trust/Bitachon, Gratitude/Hakarat Ha-Tov, Humility/Anavah, Responsibility/Achrayut, Patience/Savlanut/Erehk Apayim, Coming Home/Teshuvah

There are three kinds of adult groups.

1. Organizations: Your organization should register every year (no cost) to join Chai Mitzvah. Your registration helps Chai Mitzvah offer our programs and materials at very low cost.
2. Friendship or Affinity Groups: Like a book group, invite people to form a small group. Your group should register every year (no cost) to join Chai Mitzvah. Your registration helps Chai Mitzvah offer our programs and materials at very low cost.
3. Virtual Groups: Create your own virtual group (either through your organization with friends) or join an existing Chai Mitzvah virtual Mussar group. Your group should register every year (no cost) to join Chai Mitzvah. Your registration helps Chai Mitzvah offer our programs and materials at very low cost.

Start your own group. It’s easy! Chai Mitzvah will help you by providing

• Custom marketing materials to help recruit group members
• Webinars to make leading the sessions easy and fun

Click here to see a sample Mussar sourcebook.

Click here to view the Mussar Tutorials

Click here to Register for Mussar

Each printed packet of 12 sourcebooks costs $36. Digital sourcebook packets cost $18.
Click here to order materials.

For questions, please contact:  Nina Woldin:  nina@chaimitzvah.org