Episodes

  • Mussar is NOT about being good and Middot are NOT virtues...so what are they? ❦ Conversation #42

    Mussar is NOT about being good and Middot are NOT virtues...so what are they? ❦ Conversation #42
    May 8 2024

    START HERE: https://mussar.center ❦ Moralism never worked for you? Just couldn't get excited about being good? Good! Because Mussar isn't about being a good person, and Middot aren't virtues. Mussar is the path of the heart - it's about facing those parts of yourself you've been avoiding or suppressing so you can relate as a whole person instead of being fake. And middot are neutral, they're not good or bad. If a situation calls for a specific middah and you whip out the opposite, that could be a problem. Same goes for if you're always one thing and never the other. But walking the middle path doesn't mean being average or bland, either. Mussar will make you lots of all the different sides of yourself, not lots of nothing. Let's look at seven pairs of opposite middot and see what makes these neutral qualities helpful or harmful.

    48 Middot (Simple): https://www.mussar.center/lists/48

    48 Middot (Detailed): https://www.mussar.center/lists/middot

    Rambam: https://t.ly/b2Lcf

    ❦ #Mussar #Middos #Balance
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    40 mins
  • All that stands between US and a NIGHTMARE WORLD is character qualities: Mussar Middot. ❦ Convo #40

    All that stands between US and a NIGHTMARE WORLD is character qualities: Mussar Middot. ❦ Convo #40
    Mar 13 2024

    START HERE: https://mussar.center If you think 'working on yourself' sounds kind of vague…you're right. Mussar is way more specific than that. Much of "tikkun" is focused on individual character qualities, or "middot" in Hebrew. While literally middot are just quantitative measures, figuratively they range from your soul traits and values to Hashem's ways and highest attributes. Let's start by learning what "middah" meant in the Tanach and Rabbinic writings and discover how it's used in Israel today. Then we'll see how your character is tied to your habits, face the shocking truth that without these inner qualities everything you could do for God is garbage, and debate whether or not it's middos that make for a good day and a great you.

    SIMPLE MIDDOT LIST: https://www.mussar.center/lists/48
    DETAILED MIDDOT LIST: https://www.mussar.center/lists/middot

    (P.S. It's been five lessons! If everyone donates a dollar a lesson we'll be able to keep teaching for free. Please do what you think everyone should do and send in a little something right now: https://mussar.center/give.html Thank you!)

    ❦ #Mussar #Middot #Character #JewishValues #DivineAttributes #Middos
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    48 mins
  • Want to change the world? Start by going POOP and putting on your PANTS ❦ Mussar Conversation #39

    Want to change the world? Start by going POOP and putting on your PANTS ❦ Mussar Conversation #39
    Mar 5 2024

    START HERE: https://mussar.center Want to make the world a better place? The Hebrew word "tikkun" holds a hilariously profound message. Yes, it involves sweeping public changes like government reform, social innovation, remedial legislation, and improving our institutions. And yes, there's also the inner side of personal healing. But tikkun also means going to the bathroom and getting dressed. What's the connection? Why would you need to deal with your own poop before trying to clean up the world? Or start your day right when your country needs saving? And why make a difference in the life of that one kid when…? Tikkun also means destiny so let's finish by talking about how you can walk into yours.

    ❦ #Mussar #Tikkun #ChangeTheWorld
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    39 mins
  • Walk a path of healing (Tikkun Adam) and you will heal the world (Tikkun Olam) ❦ Mussar Convo #38

    Walk a path of healing (Tikkun Adam) and you will heal the world (Tikkun Olam) ❦ Mussar Convo #38
    Sep 3 2022

    START HERE: https://mussar.center ❦ Mussar gives you words for things. Some of those words are Hebrew because we don't have big enough English words. For example, "tikkun" - the inner work of Mussar. In our last conversation I showed you how Tikkun is used in the original Hebrew Bible. Now let's look at what it means in Rabbinic literature and modern Hebrew. Most of this conversation will be about tikkun as healing - restoring, repairing, rehabilitating, mending - and how to experience that for yourself. Why? Because only people walking their own paths of healing (Tikkun Adam) will be able to heal the world (Tikkun Olam).

    50 VERSES OF HEALING: https://mussar.center/lists/healing
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • What is TIKKUN and how is it the inner work of MUSSAR? (Also some encouragement ♥) Conversation #37

    What is TIKKUN and how is it the inner work of MUSSAR? (Also some encouragement ♥) Conversation #37
    Jul 18 2022

    START HERE: https://mussar.center To say that Mussar is "inner work" is kind of vague. What kind of work? Well...you know how last week we talked about Mussar and how it gives you words for things? This is one of those things that don't have an English equivalent. The Hebrew word is TIKKUN and it means way more than you think. Let's start by unpacking tikkun/תִּיקּוּן as it's used in the Bible and see how it relates to your personal Mussar practice. If you're feeling down I'm also going to give you some encouragement, invite you to dream again, and teach you a simple one-word prayer to say when you don't feel like doing anything at all.
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    52 mins
  • Mussar gives you words for the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS and makes them real to you. ❦ Conversation #36

    Mussar gives you words for the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS and makes them real to you. ❦ Conversation #36
    Jun 17 2022

    START HERE: https://mussar.center The way you move really hot food around in your mouth. Moonlight on water. When you're about to introduce someone and forget their name. The day after tomorrow. That crazy urge to squish cuteness. People who spend lots of time and little money at coffeeshops. What do these things have in common? There's no English word for them! Same goes for Mussar. It's a vocabulary, a language. Without Mussar we don't have words for things - things we really need, things that aren't as real to us otherwise. Speaking of which! Let's look at some Hebrew Mussar words that have no English equivalent.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • If you want to BECOME SENTIENT and ENCOUNTER GOD here's the ancient secret ❦ Mussar Conversation #35

    If you want to BECOME SENTIENT and ENCOUNTER GOD here's the ancient secret ❦ Mussar Conversation #35
    May 20 2022

    START HERE: https://mussar.center Why have stories about 'becoming a real boy' or going on a quest to 'get a heart of your own' resonated so deeply for so long? We have hearts. We are real people. Then why do we dream of more? What would it be like to be more conscious, more aware? Even just to be able to remember what happened last week? What would it be like to not be so numb? To feel like you're actually, really, there? And what about God? Could it be possible to actually feel his presence, or maybe even to have riveting encounters with the Divine? These three ancient Mussar texts say yes, it is possible. And they tell how.

    (P.S. It's been five lessons! If everyone donates a dollar a lesson we'll be able to keep teaching for free. Please do what you think everyone should do and send in a little something right now: https://mussar.center/donate Thank you!)
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    41 mins
  • Here's how to LOVE YOURSELF so you can love thy neighbor (and how NOT to) ♥ Mussar Conversation #34

    Here's how to LOVE YOURSELF so you can love thy neighbor (and how NOT to) ♥ Mussar Conversation #34
    May 14 2022

    START HERE: https://mussar.center Can you really love your neighbor if you don't love yourself? Be kind to yourself yes, but what does that actually look like? Why is it so easy for self-care to go from taking some needed you-time off so you can get lost in a good story with your favourite snack to staying up all night binge-watching and drinking the whole bottle and then feeling horrible the next day? That's why you need Mussar - because it's how to love yourself, it's how to feel good; it's literally your connection to your own soul.

    And one more thing - if there's anything I could wish for you, it's what I say at the end of this talk. ♥
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    43 mins