Mussar Pathways
Mussar Pathways supports individuals as they strive towards goodness by helping them to develop better relationships with others. Participation in Mussar Pathways helps individuals to clarify the content of their moral commitments and engage them in a specific practice leading to the implementation of these commitments. The experience of Mussar Pathways transforms the way that people choose to live their lives every day.
There are five Mussar Pathways for developing your mussar practice. One of the cornerstones of our approach is the centrality of developing a daily mussar discipline. We have designed the pathways to reflect the acquisition of this foundation. Below we have identified the criteria for each pathway.
1. The Taam Tov Pathway is for those who want an introduction to mussar theology and practice, but who do not want to take on mussar as a daily practice at this time. Those who choose the Taam Tov pathway commit to attending Mussar Pathways’ four annual mini kallahs.2. The Chadashim Pathway is for talmidim who want to become familiar with the principles and practices of Mussar Leadership, and who are
- new to the Mussar Pathways program
- not familiar with our approach to mussar and to a daily discipline
- ready to begin building a daily mussar discipline into their lives.
3. The Baynonim Pathway is for those returning students who view themselves as
- building an understanding of mussar practice
- working to make the daily pieces fit with the realities of who they are and how they live
- comfortable going through text slowly and in depth.
4. The Vatikim Pathway is for those returning students who have:
- an established daily practice, which includes a focus on a middah, torah study, weekly hevruta and a chosen mitzvah observance
- a desire to deepen their practice in the company of other committed mussar practitioners
- a willingness to learn leadership
- the foundation to progress through text at a faster pace.
5. The Madrichim Pathway is for those returning students who have:
- a commitment to daily practice, which includes a focus on a middah, torah study, weekly hevruta and a chosen mitzvah observance
- a desire to deepen their practice in the company of other committed mussar practitioners.
- a readiness to lead Mussar Pathways groups
- time and energy to build the Mussar Pathways program
- a desire to study mussar facilitation and leadership and take on other assignments that will build the Mussar Pathways program.
If you are a new student, please phone 215-735-5148 to schedule an intake appointment. If you are a returning student, please select the pathway you want to work in for the coming year and then contact Rabbi Stone or your vaad's madrich to discuss and finalize your decision.