Editing Musar movement (section)

== 21st century revival ==
At the start of the 21st century, a significant revival of interest in the Musar movement has occurred in North America in various sectors of the Jewish world.

The Mussar Institute, founded by [[Alan Morinis]] and afterwards led by [[Avi Fertig]], has achieved a very wide reach with over 7,000 members and 400 ''chaveirim'', a dedicated group of members committed to frequent musar study.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://mussarinstitute.org/about/|website=mussarinstitute.org}}</ref> Within the Orthodox community, the AishDas Society, founded by Rabbi [[Micha Berger]], and the Salant Foundation, founded by Rabbi [[Zvi Miller]], are organizations which organize Musar groups, classes and other teaching events. Orthodox rabbis Yechiel Yitzchok Perr, [[Hillel Goldberg]], Elyakim Krumbein, Avi Fertig, [[David Jaffe (rabbi)|David Jaffe]] and Micha Berger have published English books about various aspects of Musar. The founders of both The Mussar Institute and the AishDas Society found much of their inspiration in Rabbi Hillel Goldberg's English work, ''The Fire Within: A Living Heritage of the Musar'' (1987). Dr. Alan Morinis, founder of ''The Mussar Institute,'' writes "it was the introduction to my spiritual lineage....it holds a special place (for me).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/mussarinstitute/rav-goldberg-alan-morinis|title=Rab Goldberg Introduction|website=mailchi.mp}}</ref>" Micha Berger notes it was the book "which inspired me to explore musar," a topic which had already been central to his life as founder of the ''AishDas Society''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol37/v37n090.shtml|title=Avodah V37 #90|website=www.aishdas.org}}</ref>

Though the Musar movement was a historically Orthodox Jewish movement, its approach has gained significant traction among non-Orthodox Jews, who have spearheaded much of its 21st century revival.<ref name=sam1>Kestenbaum, Sam. [http://forward.com/news/353410/can-19th-century-jewish-self-help-credo-of-mussar-help-you-cope-with-donald/ "Can 19th Century Jewish Self-Help Credo of Mussar Help You Cope With Donald Trump?"] ''The Forward''. November 13, 2016.</ref><ref name="auto" /><ref>Jay Michaelson, [http://www.forward.com/articles/12792 "The Path Of the Just: Is Mussar the 'New Kabbalah'?"], ''The Forward''</ref> The Mussar Institute and the Center for Contemporary Mussar, founded by Rabbi [[Ira F. Stone]], are among the institutions which have sought to spread the practice of Musar in a non-Orthodox framework. Morinis' book ''Everyday Holiness'' (2007) and Stone's book ''A Responsible Life'' (2007) were among the popular books that sparked contemporary interest in the Musar movement. Musar has been described as "an emerging and growing phenomenon" within [[Reform Judaism]], and leaders of [[Conservative Judaism]] have debated whether Musar should stand at the center of its approach.<ref name="auto" /> [[Geoffrey Claussen]] of [[Elon University]] has argued that the Musar movement's conception of Jewish practice may be especially valuable for Conservative Judaism.<ref name=":0">Claussen, Geoffrey. [http://www.geoffreyclaussen.com/2012/04/practice-of-musar.html "The Practice of Musar"]. Conservative Judaism 63, no. 2 (2012): 3-26. Retrieved April 24, 2012</ref> Greg Marcus of the organization American Mussar has said that Musar can be accessible to many American Jews who don't speak any Hebrew, and can be adapted to the spiritual needs of American Jews.<ref name="sam1" /><ref>Marcus, Greg. ''The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions: Finding Balance Through the Soul Traits of Mussar''. Llewellyn Worldwide. 2016.</ref>

Some Musar groups have no connection with synagogues; however, a number of synagogues have started programs for the study of Musar.<ref>Leonard Felson, [http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1385 "The Mussar Revival"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222170112/http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1385 |date=2010-12-22 }}, ''Reform Judaism'', Fall 2008</ref><ref>The Mussar Institute, [http://www.mussarinstitute.org/learning-local_groups.htm "Local Mussar Groups"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117192718/http://mussarinstitute.org/learning-local_groups.htm |date=2011-01-17 }}</ref> There are also online communities dedicated to the exploration of Musar and character trait development.

Musar practice has been incorporated into the curriculum at Jewish day schools such as the [[Gann Academy]]<ref name="auto1">Alan Morinis, [http://mussarinstitute.org/Yashar/2012-12/mussar_lens.php Through a Mussar Lens: Moving Forward after 10 Kallahs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033222/http://mussarinstitute.org/Yashar/2012-12/mussar_lens.php |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref> and at rabbinical schools such as the [[Academy for Jewish Religion (California)]]<ref name="auto1" /> and the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrc.edu/catalogue/mussar|title=Mussar|website=rrc.edu|access-date=2012-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309125627/http://www.rrc.edu/catalogue/mussar|archive-date=2012-03-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Some teachers have recommended the practice of Musar not only for Jews but also among non-Jews. The website of the Mussar Institute said:

{{blockquote|The Orthodox Jewish community spawned Musar to help people overcome the inner obstacles that hinder them from living up to the laws and commandments—the mitzvot—that form the code of life. That community tends to see Musar as inseparable from its own beliefs and practices, but the human reality Musar addresses is actually universal, and the gifts it offers can be used by all people."<ref>The Mussar Institute, [http://www.mussarinstitute.org/wisdom-way.htm "The Mussar Way"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720005908/http://www.mussarinstitute.org/wisdom-way.htm |date=2012-07-20 }}</ref>}}