Jewish Spirituality [not what you think]
What exactly does it mean for someone (you, for example) to be more spiritual? What weight does that word hold for you? Is it fraught with notions of meditation, Zen, yoga or even images of yourself, sitting under a tree contemplating the universe?
Or perhaps the notion conjures up rituals and practices that are esoteric?
We tend to dismiss what we don’t really know. Or if not that, we actually do consider it, mull it over a bit, and then, with only our own judgment as our guide, put thoughts of different practices, aside.
The definition of what is spiritual, like many abstract ideas, is not easily explained. The most simple way to understand spirituality is an approach to life that entails connecting with something larger in the universe, something that would provide meaning and purpose in life, or that reveals a deeper underlying connection between all living things.
Notice, I did not mention the word religion or God. Those words tend to do the defining for us, putting ideas into neat little boxes, after which we can (after we’ve made the judgments I wrote about earlier) toss them aside entirely, or put them on a shelf for when ‘we’re ready’.
I don’t think I’ve ever engaged in a conversation with anyone when either of those two words were not defined by each person differently. It’s easier to think in boxes; a lot harder to let the air in through an open window.
So why do I care about this? Why do I think that bringing spirituality into your life is a worthwhile goal?
Because it changes you for the better. By virtue of incorporating ideas of things bigger than yourself into your life, you are putting your ego aside for a moment or two (hopefully more) and realizing that you play an important role in this life. And what you do matters. Everything you do. From the way you speak to loved ones, to the way you interact with the world at large: how you speak to people when answering a call, to how you relate to the waitress or the cashier.
The spiritual tradition in Judaism that helps keep this focus is called Musar. Probably the biggest surprise when I speak with people is that when I mention Judaism together with things spiritual, they think I’m referring to Kabbalah. But Musar is entirely different. Musar is about a better life for you and those around you. Yet, most reading this will have little if no familiarity with it.
However, Jewish scholars—Musar Masters, have been writing about this for centuries. Hard to believe, right? We tend to think that spirituality is a relatively modern-era interest—not so. Texts upon texts that have to do with the spirituality of our daily lives and how we live them are there for us to study, though not familiar to us as teachings within Judaism.
Without getting too long here, the Musar Movement was founded by Rabbi Yisrael Salanter in the 19th century but much as been lost due to the Shoah. He wondered, for example, as some other scholars also did before him, how one could follow Jewish law exactly, to the letter, yet still live a life of rudeness. One’s traits, whether kindness, open-heartedness, the ability to listen, and give others honor, matter. You can read a quick primer on Musar here.
As a long-time Jewish educator I only encountered these practices a little over eight years ago. And I couldn’t believe there was this entire body of knowledge and practices devoted to bettering the self. I’ve been teaching Mussar and spiritual practices since then, and I see the impact the practices have. Our teachings are filled with precious laws for telling us what to do, but Musar begins to unravel the how.
How to become more forgiving. More generous. More trustworthy. More sensitive. It doesn’t mean that you are not a precious and wonderful human being as you are. But, engaging in a bit of self-reflection just means that you are willing to regard yourself as you would any other enterprise.
Does any other entity not innovate? Not try to be better?
Yet, most people might not want to put out the effort. Ironically, the ‘self-help’ movement that started decades ago can morphed a bit. In its place is a movement of radical self-acceptance, as in: “I am who I am, others just have to accept me the way I am”1, “they have to take it or leave it”, or “they have the problem, not me”. We’ve turned from serious efforts to perfect the self to a defiant attitude of rights and privileges.
If the notion of Musar is interesting to you, you can become a little more familiar with some Musar ideas and practices by reading the seminal book on the subject: Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis2. You might also want to listen to Spiritual Inner Judaism, my podcast which has the theme of Musar running through it.
If participating in an introductory Musar class is of interest to you, you can always drop me a line.
Google this phrase and it will be startling how many people have used it to justify their actions.
Of course, there are many, many classical Musar texts (some still not translated), but they are books that need to be studied, preferably with others, and not read through like a novel.