Our Impact
180+
Participants
20+
Trained Facilitators
10+
Community Partnerships
5,000+
Living Mussar Podcast downloads
Mussar Impact Study – University of Pennsylvania
91%
Recognize areas for personal growth in a constructive way
85%
Live in greater alignment
with their values
85%
Feel a deepened
connection to Judaism
83%
Report improved relationships
82%
Report increased ability
to deal with challenges
Living Mussar Initiatives
Citywide Summer Learning:
A free three-part series welcoming continuing learners and newcomers alike to the middah of Tikvah/Hope/תִּקְוָה
Community Learning Groups:
Over 20 locally led va’adot (groups) will be offered throughout the Twin Cities this fall.
The Shabbat Effect:
A new curriculum uniting the transformational practices of Shabbat and Mussar — two timeless traditions, one powerful path toward wholeness.
Mussar for Parents:
A new program for parents of young children to explore Jewish wisdom, expand their awareness, and bring intention and meaning into the fullness of family life.
Cultivating a Wise Heart:
Our unique facilitator training platform, where developing skills and deepening personal practice are one continuous journey.
Testimonials
“Without sounding too dramatic, this has been a life changing experience. I never dreamed I could see so much change in myself and how I interact with others in just 6 months. It is helping me to continue to learn and grow.”
“I’ve really become more soul centred. It’s wonderful to show up for class and leave feeling filled with a calm in my brain that didn’t exist before.”
“Mussar-exploration has become my shield against default or autopilot behaviors, my toolbelt when faced with important decision-making moments, my motivator to live life in alignment with my values.”
Your Generosity
Your generosity makes Living Mussar possible. With every gift, you are helping to:
- Strengthen Jewish community and identity through a growing number of active va’adot where people learn, grow, and connect in shared practice.
- Build leadership by training and mentoring facilitators who bring Mussar wisdom to life in our congregations and organizations.
- Cultivate wholeness (shleimut) for hundreds of participants seeking deeper meaning and connection.
- Grow our capacity with a dedicated team, strong systems, and a foundation for lasting impact.
- Expand access and inclusion, widening the tent to include all members of the Jewish community.
Our Living Mussar Story
Living Mussar grew from a simple principle: the wisdom of Mussar is most powerful when it is lived together.
Our journey began in Minneapolis as Twin Cities Mussar, a grassroots effort to bring the ancient Jewish practice of Mussar—spiritual and ethical character development—into people’s daily lives. What started as a handful of small groups soon grew into a thriving community of learners seeking to live with more compassion, balance, and integrity.
As our work expanded, we discovered that Mussar was transforming not just individuals, but families, congregations, and entire communities. We saw people listening more deeply, speaking more thoughtfully, acting with more courage, and finding greater harmony in their relationships. The practice was not only cultivating character but weaving stronger connections between people and strengthening Jewish identities.
In 2024, we became Living Mussar to reflect what we had become: a vibrant, growing community dedicated to bringing Mussar to life wherever people are seeking meaning. Today, Living Mussar offers small groups, facilitator training, educational partnerships, and resources that open the door for anyone to walk this timeless Jewish path.
Mussar is more than study—it is practice. It is not only about who we are, but who we are becoming. At Living Mussar, we are committed to walking this path together: deepening our connection with Judaism, nurturing our souls, and becoming builders of a better world, one choice at a time.