Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar [Hardcover]

Alan Morinis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2007

Here is an accessible and inspiring introduction to the Jewish spiritual tradition known as Mussar. Well known in the Orthodox Jewish world, Mussar is an illuminating, approachable, and highly practical set of teachings for cultivating personal growth and spiritual realization in the midst of day-to-day life. The ultimate goal of Mussar is to become a more whole and holy person. The path is simple: learn to be a mensch, a deeply good and decent human being, or what has been called an "extraordinary ordinary person."

The core teaching of Mussar is that our deepest essence is inherently pure and holy, but this inner radiance is obscured by extremes of emotion, desire, and bad habits. Our work in life is to uncover the brilliant light of the soul. The Mussar masters developed transformative teachings and practices—some of which are contemplative, some of which focus on how we relate to others in daily life—to help us to heal and refine ourselves. 

Alan Morinis, founder of the Mussar Institute, presents these teachings in terms that anyone can understand and put to use. Everyday Holiness  features short chapters on eighteen key character traits that the Mussar masters emphasize, including humility, generosity, gratitude, trust, patience, and enthusiasm. Morinis also explains how to make Mussar practice part of our daily lives. Here is a welcome resource for all those who are interested in reinvigorating their religious lives, exploring contemplative spirituality, and making spirituality part of everyday life.

For more information on Mussar and the author, Alan Morinis, visit www.mussarinstitute.org.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Morinis, director and founder of the Mussar Institute, summarizes the practice of Mussar "in the phrase tikkun ha'middot ha'nafesh—improving or remedying the traits of the soul"—while emphasizing that it is not self-help. Rather, "it means working on yourself, but not for the sake of yourself... but... to bring the soul to wholeness and holiness." Each of us is born with an inner soul that is irrevocably pure, but the outer layers constantly engage in the age-old struggle between good and evil. By determining our soul curriculum, or "issues that repeatedly challenge [us]," we can strengthen our souls and therefore every aspect of our lives. Specifically, he addresses 18 soul traits: humility, patience, gratitude, compassion, order, equanimity, honor, simplicity, enthusiasm, silence, generosity, truth, moderation, loving-kindness, responsibility, trust, faith and yirah (a combination of fear and awe, without a true English counterpart). In most cases the explanations are clear and delightfully illustrated with colorful Talmudic tales, though occasionally some traits, like moderation and generosity, seem at odds with each other. Early on, Morinis explains that a Mussar book should be read "slowly, in little segments, so the material can be thoroughly absorbed and digested." So, too, should readers of any religion take their time with this engaging tome of wisdom, lore and suggested practice. (May)
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Review

"You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate this way of refining and elevating your inner life and outward actions. . . . Everyday Holiness is an exceptional resource, illuminating how true spiritual transformation can take place in our lives one day at a time."—Spirituality and Health


"Clear and delightfully illustrated. . . . Readers of any religion [should] take their time with this engaging tome of wisdom, lore, and suggested practice."—Publishers Weekly

"This is a well-written guide to a spiritual practice that individuals who are beset by the travails of our modern world would find meaningful and compelling. . . . Morinis writes beautifully of his personal journey to Mussar."—The Jewish Book World

"Reading this book was an education and an inspiration for me. It is wise, written with beautiful clarity, and useful at every step."—Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul


“In a chaotic world awash in violence and immorality, it is a major challenge to live a meaningful, spiritual life. Reading this book and implementing its teachings will help readers to progress toward life goals that can deliver true happiness.”—Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, MD, author of The Spiritual Self



“The Mussar tradition offers a path of wisdom and authentic holiness that has stood the test of time. Alan Morinis has made a significant contribution in helping reveal Mussar’s transformative power.”—Larry Dossey, MD, author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Trumpeter; Hardcover -Stated First Edition/First Printing - Unclipped matching DJ edition (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590303687
• ISBN-13: 978-1590303689
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent presentation of Mussar..., May 23, 2007

By 

J. C. Adams "jccath" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent presentation of Mussar, by one of today's premier Mussar teachers in the US/Canada. The author is not Orthodox, and doesn't pretend to be. His own Mussar teacher is Orthodox, and approved of this author's teaching of Mussar to the larger community of both Orthodox and other Jews as well as non-Jews. The material is easy to understand and easy to put into practice. The author teaches Mussar as it was meant to be practiced, with kindness as well as consciousness. If you are the least interested in Mussar, and not interested in a practice to beat yourself over the head with, this is the book you've been looking for. I bought copies for friends along with my own.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, clear introduction to modern Mussar, July 7, 2007

By 

Ms. J. M. Lazarus (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar (Hardcover)

Mussar is a Jewish ethical practice that involves self-examination leading to self-improvement. The practice is positive in nature and outward focussed though it involves a certain amount of introspection as well.

Everyday Holiness is well laid out in three sections. Part one explains what Mussar is and gives something of its history. Part two describes eighteen middot (character traits) including how they impact on our lives and steps we might take to improve the balance of that particular quality in our personalities. Part three describes Mussar practice, including daily, weekly and annual activities.

I found the book wonderfully clear and relevant for today. It would be quite possible to launch into Mussar with just this book as a guide.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about an obscure subject, July 14, 2008

By 

Hank Hirsh "Hank Hirsh - Six Perfections Musi... (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar (Hardcover)

I had never heard of Mussar until recently. I am a Jew and have been practicing Buddhism for the last 25 years. Mussar ties Jewish thought, Talmudic and Biblical in origin, with concepts like generosity, loving-kindness and other principles that are common to Buddhism.
This book is outlined in a way that offers daily readings and you could just keep starting over each time you finish. I read from it after i finish my morning meditation session. This book has provided me with a spiritual part of Judaism that had been difficult to connect with prior to reading it.
I can't say that it has changed my life, but it has added to it something essential and beneficial for me and ultimately for all sentient beings. Thanks to Alan Morinis for writing it.
peace