By Shirah Bell, Director of Everyday Holiness Program

Seattle just had its first Mussar Kallah, which I organized. The event was a major success, both in terms of the learning that took place and the teamwork that made it happen, thanks to the excellent speakers and the committed participants. The question that seemed to spark the greatest electricity concerned the relationship of middot (Mussar) and mitzvot (Divine service) — a major question I have personally sidestepped for the most part. Can one who doesn’t observe mitzvot be a person of good character? Does observing the mitzvot automatically make one a good person in the eyes of HaShem? Please stumble along with me as I explore this here and accept my apologies in advance for any mistakes I may commit.

At the Kallah, Alan Morinis, Rabbi Ira Stone, and Rabbi David Lapin interacted with this question. In The Mussar Institute courses we don’t directly address mitzvot, but they permeate the source texts from which we quote.  (There are pragmatic and pedagogic reasons for this, which I don’t have room to discuss here.)

I grew up as a Reform Jew and now think of myself as ‘Conservadox.’ Since beginning to study Mussar my mitzah observance has increased and I intend that it continue to do so. I wonder what impact studying Mussar has had on my increased observance. I also wonder if it would be sufficient for me to keep working on the middot and not increase mitzvah observance.
Our tradition recognized that being righteous (observing mitzvot) and being good (ethical/middot) are not the same thing, although they are deeply interconnected. One can be righteous in relation to HaShem and good in relation to humans, righteous and bad, wicked and good, or wicked and bad. (See Kiddushin 40a for the Talmudic reference.)
We all know people who follow the commandments but aren’t kind and people who are kind but do their own thing and don’t follow the mitzvot. A simple example of the latter would be someone who generously invites people to dinner, but does not keep kosher. An example of the former: someone who prays three times a day at shul, and who is adept at shirking his share of the workload at home and office.

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, a major speaker in the Conservative movement, wrote:

“The primary challenge to meaningful (and moral) life today is the cultivated narcissism of our own society…. The only voice left standing against this flattening consumerism is that of religion, which seeks to call us to a life of service, to placing God at the center of our concern. Mitzvot gain their worth (and their necessity) from such recognition.”

When Rabbi Salanter was teaching in mid-1800s Lithuania, he confronted the beginnings of this societal challenge and developed what has come to be known as the modern Mussar Movement to respond to it. He wrote:

“There is one thing that cures every affliction and illness, both in one’s actions and in his character traits [and that is the study of Mussar]. Even in situations where positive routine enhances yiras Shamayim [fear of Heaven] and Torah study, without Mussar study the desired goal remains elusive.”

In a later letter, he said that it is easier to study Mussar than Torah, and by studying Mussar we will be drawn to study and observe Torah. (“Ohr Yisroel,” Zvi Miller translation)

The Chazon Ish, writing in the first half of the 20th century, emphasized that it is inconceivable that a person be righteous but bad. If that appears to be the case, it is really that his mitzah observance is false. He wrote, “the correction of one’s traits is the foundation of the observance of [all] commandments.” However, he differs in the practical tool he advises be used. While R. Salanter advocated the practical tools of Mussar, the Chazon said the practical tool one should use in order to correct one’s character traits is meticulous observance of halachah.

Now what? As you can tell, I don’t have this question figured out quite yet. I expect I’ll be working on it for a long time to come. I hope you will too. I encourage you to consider how you hold mitzvot in your life and what relationship you seek to establish between religious observance and spiritual life.

Home | About Us | Mussar Wisdom | Courses & Learning | Books | Audio
Schedule | Resources | Contact Us | Mailing List | Donate

site designed by nrichmedia | site map | disclaimer and copyright