Writing Your Ethical Will with the Wisdom of Mussar

Explore how Mussar wisdom can help you craft a meaningful Ethical Will, transforming your values, lessons, and life stories into a lasting legacy for your loved ones.

Level: Intermediate |

Recommended Experience: One Year Mussar Studies (e.g. New Pathways to the Inner Life Course |

Format: 6 90-minute va'ad meetings, 5 chevruta meetings (first and last meeting are 120 minutes)

Facilitator: Gali Ettner-Levkovitz

Facilitator: Damaris Methner

Course Overview:

Writing Your Ethical Will with the Wisdom of Mussar, a new course, written and facilitated by TMI members and facilitators, Gali Ettner-Levkovitz, Ken Birenbaum, Damaris Methner, and Mark Edelstein, features va’ad meetings, chevruta, and a hands-on workshop where you will utilize your Mussar insights to create an Ethical Will, also known as a Legacy Letter. The course combines two ancient Jewish traditions allowing you to transform your wisdom into a heartfelt, concise document that summarizes your own unique Mussar and life journeys. By the end of the course, you will have crafted your Ethical Will in a beautifully designed format which you can share with your cherished ones.

This enriching course will help you reflect deeply on the values, lessons learned, stories, and more that you wish to pass down to your loved ones. Readings, contemplations, and plenty of meaningful reflection and journaling prompts help guide you through each step of the process.

Format and Delivery:

Requirement: Completion of at least one year of TMI va'ad-based coursework, such as Pathway to the Inner Life I-III or equivalent.

Duration: 6 va'ad meetings, 5 chevruta meetings (first and last meeting are 120 minutes).

Delivery: Live Web Meetings

Modalities: Va'ad and chevruta components, assigned practices

Sessions/Facilitators:

Gali Ettner-Levkovitz & Damaris Methner, Wednesdays, 2:30 pm ET, 11/5/2025-1/21/2026

Intro & Va'ad 1: 11/5/25 (2 hrs)
Va'ad 2: 11/19/25
Va'ad 3: 12/3/25
Va'ad 4: 12/17/25
Va'ad 5: 1/7/26
Workshop: 1/21/26 (2 hrs)

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Tuition (3-Tier Pricing):

Tier 1 - $375
Tier 2 - $335
Tier 3 - $265

Which Tier Is Right For You?

Chaverim members enjoy a 15% discount off of course pricing. Members, please select the Chaverim rate of your choice on your registration form, membership will be verified before your enrollment is secured for the course.

We invite everyone to become a Chaver or Chavera - Join Here.

*All course fees are 100% tax deductible.

In this short video, Gali Ettner-Levkovitz explains the concept of an Ethical Will and its role in shaping a legacy of values.

Course Authors:

Gali Ettner-Levkovitz

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Gali Ettner-Levkovitz moved to the United States after receiving her BA and MA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and working in Israeli politics. An academic turned pastry chef, she has been practicing and studying Mussar since 2020. Gali facilitates Mussar courses at Temple Beth Am in South Florida, where she and her husband, a rabbi, raised their three children. In addition to her extensive volunteer work, she is a co-author and facilitator of the course Writing Your Ethical Will with the Wisdom of Mussar.

Ken Birenbaum

Ken has been a Mussar student since 2010 and a facilitator since 2012. He both learned and taught the Manchim facilitator training program for two years. Ken has experience with all Mussar Institute courses, from beginner to advanced, and finds joy in observing how Mussar transforms newcomers. He served as President of Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis, Missouri, and contributed to the Boards of the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Day School, The Union for Reform Judaism, and held the role of Board member and Treasurer at The Mussar Institute.

Damaris Methner

Damaris Methner is a Mussar facilitator who is noted for her eco lyricism; illuminating the connection to the sacred shattered sparks of creation that exist in nature and the poetic expression of that relationship. Her writing on “hearthkeeping” articulates the application of Mussar to the role of caretaker. Damaris is a clinical psychologist. Her doctoral dissertation and research focused on the use of metacognition with learning disabled students. Metacognition is also the contemplative practice used in Mussar to access the superconscious, the highest “Soul” level of human consciousness.

Mark Edelstein

After graduating from Rutgers Law school, Mark moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he practiced worker’s compensation law for over 50 years. He received a Life Time Achievement Award for his work. He is now a partner emeritus at the law firm he started four decades ago. Mark sits on the Board of Trustees of synagogue Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, CA, as Trustee for Jewish Life and Practice. He has been involved with Mussar since 2001. He has taken many courses over the years, has facilitated Mussar va’adim, and is presently taking advanced Mussar facilitation training with TMI.