How Do I Become More Holy?
Words of Wisdom with Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar
This Dvar Torah on Acharei-Mot/ Kedoshim is written by Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar and largely taken from the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar, written by the founder of The Mussar Institute, Dr. Alan Morinis.
Years ago, Nina Yarus introduced me to the study of Mussar; I had never heard of it, and I had been a rabbi for at least 15 years already!
When I mentioned Mussar to my Orthodox husband, he rolled his eyes. Apparently, in the Orthodox world it’s often used by teachers to lay on the guilt, or parents to give textual support for their parental disapproval.
Most of the Mussar texts were written in pre-modern times and in very medieval language and style – probably why so few liberal Jews even know about it, let alone study it.
With Nina as my guide, we explored the curriculum developed by The Mussar Institute to overcome those hurdles and recast the wisdom of these texts in ways that modern Jews could relate to.
The study of Mussar was transformative for me because it’s all about refining one’s soul and becoming more holy - just as the Torah enjoins us to do in Parashat Kedoshim.
Think about it - if someone asked you the question: “I want to become a better person and improve my character. Where is the curriculum in Judaism to do that?”
The answer is Mussar.
We all know halachically very observant Jews who are not good people and do not have good character, so observing halacha alone cannot be the answer to the question.
That’s why Rabbi Yisroel Salanter developed the Mussar movement, particularly among the Lithuanian Jews, in 19th century Orthodox Eastern Europe.
The Hebrew term ‘mussar’ (מוּסַר), is from the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning instruction, discipline, or conduct. The term was used by the Mussar movement to refer to disciplined efforts to further ethical and spiritual development.
Alan Morinis tells us: The starting point for understanding Mussar is the verse in the Torah that tells us- ‘You shall be holy’ (Leviticus/ Vayikra 19:2).
The Torah here reveals in no uncertain terms what a human being’s job description is.
In essence, we are here on earth for no other purpose than to grow and blossom spiritually- to become holy.
Our potential and therefore our goal should be to become as spiritually refined and elevated as possible…
How many hours every day go into fixing, cleaning, upgrading, improving, reconfiguring, and maintaining the things and aspects of your life?
You commit so much time, thought, and effort because you are born with an impulse to improve.
Since we live in a time and place that emphasizes the material, we commonly give rein to that impulse in material ways…
The Torah’s advice is to recognize that, at heart and in reality, the inner impulse to improve that you feel is a spiritual urge, an innate drive toward spiritual refinement that is squandered when it is spent on your clothes or your car…
While the goal of holiness is the same for everyone, the path each of us has to follow in pursuit of that goal is unique, as each of us is unique…
Each of us has our own personal strengths and weaknesses.
This means that you have a unique spiritual curriculum to master on the journey toward holiness.
Sometimes the Mussar teachers say that the purpose of Mussar practice is to help us move in the direction of sh’leimut, which translates literally as “wholeness.”
The great Mussar teacher Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto wrote: ‘The one stone on which the entire building rests is the concept that God wants each person to complete himself body and soul…”
He is telling us that we are created incomplete so that we can complete the work of our own creation…
The other way the Mussar teachers describe the goal is a simple Yiddish notion: you are supposed to be a mensch, which means ‘a decent human being.’
To which the Chassidic teacher known as the Kotzker rebbe said: “Fine, be holy. But remember first one has to be a mensch.”
In sum, Mussar means working on yourself, but not for the sake of your self.
By refining and elevating your inner life and nourishing the soul, you clarify your inner light and thus become a lamp shedding light into the world.
This is why Mussar is not self-help.
Its purpose is not that you will gratify all your desires but that you will become the master of your desires, so that you can fulfill the potential of your higher nature.
To learn more about Mussar or take classes about it online, visit The Mussar Institute. If you are interested in studying Mussar with others in person, contact Dr. Bella Tendler Krieger, CAJE’s Director of Adult Learning and Growth: bellatkrieger@caje-miami.org
