JEWISH VALUES
Have you struggled to find a Jewish character-building curriculum without success?
This program is designed by experts in early childhood education and the ancient tradition of Mussar. It supports teachers and families in exploring values in a way that is natural and connected to Jewish holidays and other life-cycle events.
NATURAL FOR CHILDREN 4 - 8
Values, character traits, or soul traits are a natural part of daily life for young children. In classrooms, playgrounds, and homes, children encounter situations calling for forgiveness, patience, friendship, trust, silence, responsibility, courage, generosity, and kindness.
ACCESSIBLE FOR TEACHERS & FAMILIES
Staff and parents will find the hands-on learning experiences and guided discussions that make reinforcing these values delightful and easy.
WHAT IS MUSSAR?
- Mussar is ancient Jewish wisdom that guides our thoughts and actions to help us grow spiritually, morally, and ethically.
- Mussar helps us overcome inner obstacles to becoming the best we can be.
- The Hebrew terms middot (plural) and middah (singular) throughout the program refer to the Jewish values of forgiveness, patience, friendship, trust, silence, responsibility, courage, generosity, and loving-kindness.
WHY MUSSAR FOR CHILDREN?
- Mussar for Children goes beyond awareness and learning about values to practicing, acting on, and incorporating them into daily life.
- Mussar for Children encourages balance, striving for neither too little nor too much of any given character trait.
- Mussar for Children results in values being internalized.
WATCH THIS VIDEO FEATURING DR. ALAN MORINIS, FOUNDER
THE MAGIC OF MUSSAR
- Children interact with one another with more kindness and thoughtfulness.
- Children begin to celebrate the good in each other.
- Children internalize problem-solving skills rooted in ancient tradition.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US: INFO@MUSSARINSTITUTE.ORG
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Mussar for Children integrates Jewish values with classroom and family activities, directed discussions, and more. This program is easily incorporated into school programs pairing the middot with Jewish holidays and festivals.
This Mussar program for young children uses an inquiry-based approach in which cooperative, child-initiated learning promotes the children’s spiritual and ethical development. The program provides a starting point for creating awareness and encouraging reflection and ongoing discovery.
To help you prepare, you will receive introductory letters to share with your co-workers and families and information on how to create a mascot to join you in the classroom when each new middah is introduced.
Stories are based around the puppets: Mendel or Mindel who bring the middot from revered Jewish sources. Your children will be excited to see the puppets, knowing that whenever one of them visits, they will have the opportunity to explore a new middah and practice. They will soon learn that the puppets signal new books to read, a much-loved “Questions-In-A-Jar” activity, and more.
For example, you'll receive a scroll with the middah written in English, Hebrew, and transliteration to reinforce the idea that each middah was received long ago and has been passed down to us.
You will also receive learning materials that describe the middah and ways to highlight it in family life. Suggested activities can be included in your school newsletter or sent home to parents.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
For every Middah the following are included:
A Scroll: This is a page with a portrayal of an open scroll that can be used to introduce the middah and then hung on a wall throughout the month. The scroll helps children understand that each middah is part of Judaism’s ancient teachings and has been transmitted through many generations to the present.
Monthly Article: This can be used for the school newsletter or sent directly to families. It describes that month’s middah and how to incorporate it into family life.
Classroom Activity: This helps children explore the meaning of the middah.
Questions in a Jar Activity: These questions stimulate class discussion about the middah of the month.
Self-Awareness Reflection Activity: This activity helps each child personally relate to the middah.
Self-Awareness Reflection Drawing Page: Children create a page for each middah which becomes part of a book or portfolio at the end of the year.
Monthly Letter to Parents: This home/school connection keeps parents informed about what their child is learning in school and helps them to reinforce those values at home.
Resource List: This reinforces the middah of the month by helping parents choose books to foster discussion and practice.
Home School Connection – Family Discussion Activity: This provides materials that encourage families to instill the value in the home by engaging in discussions and activities through which they experience the middah in action together.
PRICING - MAKE YOUR PURCHASE
$500 for the complete 9-middot program delivered to you in one convenient PDF. You will receive a perpetual license allowing you to use the program as long as you wish.
Middot included: Forgiveness, Patience, Friendship, Trust, Silence, Responsibility, Courage, Generosity, and Loving-kindness
Not sure if Jewish Values for Everyday Living is for you? Ask for our sample lesson, "Judging Others Favorably," by emailing info@mussarinstitute.org. We look forward to answering your questions.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US: INFO@MUSSARINSTITUTE.ORG