Mussar Circles: Living a Meaningful Life

What is Mussar?

Mussar has often been described as “the Jewish journey to character.” It is a centuries-old Jewish practice for personal growth, spiritual elevation, and provides a framework on how to live a meaningful life. Mussar practitioners use reflection/meditation, journaling, and mindful action to cultivate specific virtues such as gratitude, humility, and loving-kindness, focusing on one trait at a time. Mussar provides a space for individuals to examine different traits and aspects of their lives which need growth, while providing various tools + methods to learn how to improve themselves. Mussar aims to help you close the gap between your ideals and the life you lead.

What is a Mussar Circle?

The Den’s mussar learning circles aim to bring together groups of curious, engaged learners for a peer-led deep dive into the practice of Mussar. Together, and individually, participants will explore various teachings and aspects of Mussar that provide guidance and perspective on how to deepen one’s character – or, as it’s often put, to have menschlichkeit.

With your learning circle cohort, you will study different Middot — soul traits — such as gratitude, humility, patience, equanimity, joy, and enthusiasm; attempting to maintain balance within each trait and to harness the interdependence among these traits.