Start your Mussar Journey with CCM
CCM renews spiritual practice and Jewish text to transform relationships, awakening each person to their profound responsibility for the other. We offer introductory and continuing classes that focus on Mussar texts, theology, and practice. Students commit for a semester at a time; a complete curriculum is offered over four years. We also offer specialty classes open to new students each semester focused on different themes.
Check out the list of available classes below!
Available classes
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Foundations / Kibbush 1
4-5:30 p.m. CT, alternating Tuesdays | Aug. 26 - Dec. 23, 2025
This course offers an accessible and meaningful introduction to Mussar, as well as continued growth for returning students. Together, we will explore core Mussar tools and middot (soul traits) that support ethical living and spiritual awareness in a relational world.
*Ongoing and open to new students!
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In Their Own Words: Middot of the Matriarchs, Part I
3-4:30 p.m. CT, Sundays | Sept. 8 - Dec. 7, 2025
What do our Biblical Matriarchs come to teach? Beyond moving the generations forward, the women of the Hebrew Bible embody character traits (middot) as relevant for us today as they were thousands of years ago. Find inspiration for the coming new year by exploring the words and actions of Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel. Beginning with a close look at Torah text, ancient and modern commentaries, we will deeply discuss the questions arising from the surprising white spaces.
*Open to new students!
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Advanced Va'ad
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET, Thursdays | Sept. 11 - Nov. 13
This new class is designed for those who have completed the CCM program (recently or in the past) and are looking to keep Mussar alive in their lives. As part of the CCM structure of shiur and va’ad, participants will have a chance to explore and wrestle with their notions of God, develop a gratitude practice, focus on what information the body is telling us about the state of our nefeshot, and take turns giving weekly divrei torah. The text for the shiur will be Rabbi Sharon Brous’ The Amen Effect.
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Soulwork in a Broken World: A Mussar Response to Antisemitism
7:30-8:45 p.m. ET, Thursdays | Oct. 9-23, 2025
With antisemitism on the rise, Mussar is more important in our lives than ever. This workshop will increase participants' confidence in identifying antisemitism, coping with antisemitism in a way that is prosocial, and, if necessary, deciding when to leave a situation or conversation. The Mussar concept of engaging with others while grounded in a semi-permeable nefesh will be highlighted. Middot (character traits) like deliberation, calmness, and discernment/detachment will be explored.
*Open to all students!
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Foundations/Kibbush 1
4:30-6 p.m. PT, alternating Thursdays | Oct. 9 - Dec. 18, 2025
Kibbush, which literally means “capture,” is the Mussar practice of self-restraint. This is a foundational step in Mussar practice and evokes the question: What is it that keeps us asleep, even as we desire to be awake to the needs of the other?
In this Foundation class, we will explore the elements of daily practice which help us transform our energy so we can more fully serve the other.
*Open to new students!
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Seeds of Mussar
4-5:30 p.m. PT, Tuesdays | Oct. 21 - Nov. 18, 2025
Sandra Wortzel & Geoffrey Basik
Seeds of Mussar will introduce a method that focuses on refining our attributes so that they enable us to serve others with greater and greater joy. The Torah introduced the idea of loving our neighbor as ourselves thousands of years ago; this Mussar program provides each student with a personal operating manual toward meeting this overarching goal of Judaism.
*This introductory class is designed for new students!
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Mussar for Sustainable Communities
4-5:30 p.m. CT, alternating Wednesdays | Oct. 22 - Feb. 4
This course will widen our Mussar “lens” from the sphere of our closest others to the collective or societal level. The greatest challenges our society faces today require collective and structural solutions. We will assess why we face these challenges and, more importantly, together envision an alternative to the current social, economic, and political order that would reflect our Mussar obligation to “bear the burden” of the other, infinitely extended.
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Weekly Mussar Meditations
10-10:30 a.m. ET | Tuesdays
*MEDITATION CLASS WILL BE TAKING A SUMMER BREAK FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER*
Mussar is fundamentally a mindfulness practice; that is, in order to truly practice Mussar, one needs to be ever more aware of what is actually happening – not just immediately responding to projections, fears, and entitlements. I think some sort of meditation practice is necessary as a precursor to practicing Mussar, but increasingly I feel like it’s even more than that – Mussar is what meditation looks like when one leaves the cushion and enters the realm of relationship.
*Free & open to new students!
On-going Va’ads
(not open to new students, unless noted)
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Transformations/Tikkun 3
10-11:30 a.m. ET, Mondays | Sept. 8 - Dec. 15*
*Class will meet on the following dates: 9/8, 9/15, 10/6, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/15
Not open to new students
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Tikkun of Aging
4:15-5:45 p.m. ET, Wednesdays | Sept. 10 - Dec. 17*
Using the Tikkun Middot, we will explore our maturing relationships with self and others.
*Class will meet on the following dates: 9/10, 9/17, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19, 12/3, 12/17
Open to Temple Beth Hillel continuing students only; class will meet in person.
In addition to the classes listed above, CCM also offers:
Madrichim Training Course — available to those who have completed the 3-year CCM curriculum and who are accepted into the teacher training program. Available now to those pre-approved!
Rabbis Mussar Cohort — a year-long course offered to Rabbis with Mussar experience who are looking for deeper training and community.
Local Mussar classes — our madrichim are spread out throughout the United States and Canada, and many teach Mussar classes at their local synagogues.