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In This Issue

Welcome – Jeffrey Agron
Through a Mussar Lens – By Alan Morinis
Mussar Want-Ads
Donations
Upcoming Events and Announcements

By Jeff Agron, Co-President

Every month brings changes and new developments to The Mussar Institute, but this past month has been particularly exciting and gratifying for me. In February, we launched a new program, Middah-A-Month. Most of you have received an invitation to join this new “community” and I hope that you take advantage of the many jewels that this program offers. I want to congratulate and publicly say yasher koach to Nina Yarus, one of our board members, who developed this program. Nina has been working for the better part of a year to make sure that this new offering is well presented, well researched and offers something new to those who want to delve deeper into Mussar thought and practice.  I also want to thank all of those who have helped Nina in bringing Middah-A-Month to fruition:  Modya Silver, Nathaniel Richman, Chaya Schneider, Margo Martin, Wil Sol, Seemah Berson, Camins Bretts, Lara Fisher, Marc  Belcourt and Alan Morinis. Thank you all.

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By Alan Morinis

Today as I write, I am aware that it is the 25th of Shevat, the 127th yahrzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, whose leadership, insight and innovation gave us the Mussar movement that is a treasure to the generations that have followed him, including our own. I want to honor Rabbi Salanter (1810-1883) in this column, but only indirectly. I am in England today, and as I davenned at the East Marble Arch shul this morning, a more recent Mussar teacher, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (1892-1953) came strongly to mind. Rabbi Dessler was a thoroughgoing product of the Lithuanian Mussar yeshiva of Kelm, the leading dissemination point for the Mussar movement. But when, in 1928, he accompanied his father to England for medical treatment, he took the unexpected decision to remain behind in the same London where I am today.

Read entire article.

I would like to dialogue by e-mail with others interested in Mussar. I am a middle-aged single woman (if that matters to you). I have background in psychology, philosophy (moral, social, legal, and political), and logic/argumentation/persuasion.
Sharon. infosri@juno.com

Testimonials: Mussar Want-Ads Work

Our new Mussar Want-Ads really work. Here are two testimonials from Yashar readers who emailed us to express their gratitude:

My ad RE: "Ways of the Tzaddikkim," which ran in Yashar solicited a reply the following day from a man in Ottawa. He is connected with the JCC there and belongs to a Mussar group, which needed a copy of the "Ways of the Tzaddikim." All this to show you that the Want-Ad did work, for which I thank you.

Yesterday I saw the "Mussar Want-Ad" in my emailed newsletter from The Mussar Institute. Since I live in Chicago, I decided to contact [the person] who was seeking a chevruta [study partner]. I live within five miles of him and we actually met up last night for mincha/maariv at a shul near his home. He and I will, hopefully, start learning very soon. I'm very excited and just wanted you to know that the "want-ad" idea seems to have worked.

How to Get Your Ad in Yashar

Need a chevruta partner? Do you have a Mussar book for sale or one you are seeking? Whatever your need or want in the area of Mussar, you can advertise your need or request in Yashar by sending it to wantads@mussarinstitute.org. We'll be sure to include your ad in the next issue, as long as we get your ad by our deadline. The deadline is the 10th of each month.

The Mussar Institute depends on the generosity of supporters. Please consider making a donation to honor someone or to remember a loved one.

• Dena and Stanley Forster, in honor of Dena Nisenfeld Forster's 75th birthday
• Susan Henley, in memory of Tess Henley
• Barbara Pachano, in recognition of Alan Morinis
• Neal Persky
• Lynne Sipher
• Nina and Gary Yarus, and Ruth Piken
• Fran Zimmerman

Donations gratefully accepted here.

Middah A Month launched last month to an enthusiastic response, with 
many people signing up to receive Mussar thoughts, stories, recorded
affirmations, and to participate in a lively online community already
buzzing about this new program. You can register at any time to receive
materials for the beginning of the next month. To find out more click here.

Registration Now Open