Mussar is wisdom that has come down to us from Jewish teachers that is as applicable to our lives today as it was in ancient times. Mussar encourages us to reflect on our thoughts and actions, and guides us in how we can grow spiritually, morally, and ethically. These teachings help us to overcome inner obstacles that interfere with our becoming the best we can be. We accomplish this by studying and practicing Jewish ideals (middot in Hebrew) and continually striving to improve.
The goal of a daily Mussar-DBT practice is to release the light of holiness that lives within the soul. The roots of all of our thoughts and actions can be traced to the depths of the soul, beyond the reach of the light of consciousness, and so the methods Mussar provides include meditations, guided contemplations, exercises and chants that are all intended to penetrate down to the darkness of the subconscious, to bring about change right at the root of our nature.
From its origins in the 10th century, Mussar was a practice of the solitary seeker, until in the 19th century it became the basis for a popular social/spiritual movement originating in Lithuania, inspired by the leadership of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and modified and used as their own by various Jewish rabbi’s, lay leadership, and scholars.
| 1 | Equanimity | Menuchatha-nefesh | מְנוּחַת הַנֶפֶשׁ | Rise above events that are inconsequential — both bad and good — for they are not worth disturbing your composure. |
| 2 | Patience | Savlanut | סַבְלָנוּת | When something bad happens to you and you did not have the power to avoid it, do not aggravate the situation even more through wasted grief. |
| 3 | Order | Seder | סֵדֶר | All of your actions and possessions should be orderly—each and every one in a set place and at a set time. Let your thoughts always be free to deal with that which lies ahead of you. |
| 4 | Decisiveness | Harizut | חָרִיצוּת | All of your acts should be preceded by deliberation; when you have reached a decision, act without hesitating. |
| 5 | Cleanliness | Nekiyut | נְקְיוּת | Let no stain or ugliness be found in your possessions or in your home, and surely not on your body or clothes. |
| 6 | Humility | Anavah | עֲנָוָה | Always seek to learn wisdom from every man, to recognize your failings and correct them. In doing so you will learn to stop thinking about your virtues and you will take your mind off your friend’s faults. |
| 7 | Righteousness | Tzedek | צֶדֶק | What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. |
| 8 | Frugality | Keemutz | קְמּוּץ | Be careful with your money. Do not spend even a penny needlessly. |
| 9 | Diligence/Zeal | Zehrizut | זְרִיזוּת | Always find something to do for yourself or for a friend and do not allow a moment of your life to be wasted. |
| 10 | Silence | Shtikah | שְׁתִיקָה | Before you open your mouth, be silent and reflect: “What benefit will my speech bring to me or others?” |
| 11 | Calmness | Nichutah | נִיחוּתָא | The words of the wise are stated gently. In being good, do not be called evil. |
| 12 | Truth | Emet | אֱמֶת | Do not allow anything to pass your lips that you are not certain is completely true. |
| 13 | Separation | Prishut | פְּרִישׁוּת | Strengthen yourself so that you can stop lewd thoughts. Draw close to your [spouse] only when your mind is free, [occupied only] by thoughts of fulfilling your conjugal duties and procreating. |
The additional five middot in the Addendum to Rabbi Mendel of Satanov’s Cheshbon ha-Nefesh.
| 14 | Temperance | Histapkut | הִסְתַּפְּקוּת | Before taking food into your mouth, consider what benefit it has for your personal health or the fulfillment of a precept. |
| 15 | Deliberation | Mitenut | מְתִינוּת | Let your heart not be precipitate nor your mouth hasty. Rather, pause several times while speaking or acting so as to deliberate and calm yourself. |
| 16 | Modesty | Tzniut | צְנִיעוּת | Distance yourself from all that is ugly and unseemly, from lust and from anything which lead people to be suspicious of you, and you will find favor in the eyes of God and man. |
| 17 | Trust | Bitachon | בִּטָּחוּן | If worry comes to your hear, take it as a warning from God who loves you. Examine your deeds and take counsel with those whose advice you seek. When you have fulfilled His will, trust Him and your serenity will return. |
| 18 | Generosity | Nedivut | נְדִבוּת | Accustom yourself to finding satisfaction in acting kindly towards others and in seeing the meanness of being stingy. |
Source: Rabbi Mendel of Satanov. Cheshbon ha-Nefesh (1812). Translated by Dovid Landesman. Feldheim Publishers, New York, 1995.
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