Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar - Hardcover

Morinis, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1590303687 ISBN 13: 9781590303689

Publisher: Trumpeter, 2007

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Alan Morinis completed his doctorate at Oxford University, which he attended on a Rhodes Scholarship. A producer of award-winning television and film, he has been a student of the Mussar tradition since 1997, studying under Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok Perr. Alan is the founder and director of the Mussar Institute (www.mussarinstitute.org), an organization that promotes the study of Mussar through study groups, courses, and public talks. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife and two daughters.

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Trumpeter
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1590303687
• ISBN 13: 9781590303689
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320