Everyday Holiness

Tuesday, April 15. 3:00pm - 4:30pm. Center House Gallery.

Description

“Rav Kook, a renowned 20th Century Torah Scholar said “Some sing the Song of the Soul… Others sing the Song of the Nation…Others sing the Song of Humanity… And some reach even higher in the expanse, until they unite with all of existence, with all creatures and all worlds. With all of them, they sing the Song of the Universe.”
 
Why is it that we know what is good, but often our knowledge doesn’t affect our heart and actions?  Mussar, a 1,000-year-old Jewish tradition, tackles this question. Its objective is to instill practices in our everyday lives which enable us to change ineffective emotional and behavioral habits so we act more consistently with our inner holiness. This spiritual and ethical practice moves us toward more effective and conscious parenting because it gives us the tools to inspire (as opposed to shape) the next generation through how we live our own lives. In learning and exploring together we will move beyond sectarian considerations to encounter a vision of human potential that comes from centuries of innovation of Mussar masters about the cultivation of personal traits as a means to bring forth our own Divine song.
 
In this session we introduce two character traits—compassion and humility—and explore the possibility of cultivation of these traits as they relate to our lives with children through story, text, discussion, and small group work. The presentation will bridge the Jewish tradition of character development and other traditions, including the work of Benjamin Franklin. Participants will leave with a handout of guidelines for practice in their homes and a resource list for further study.

Presenter Bios

Shirah Bell

Shirah Bell directs The Mussar Institute’s basic educational offering, Everyday Holiness: the course, and trains individual Mussar students. She is certified in Spiritual Direction, guiding people in that practice of holy listening— attending to the Divine presence in everyday life. Shirah originally entered the workforce with a degree in economics. Awakening to her interests in teaching and the question of how people create meaningful lives, she earned MBA and PhD degrees in finance and organizational behavior from Stanford University. Shirah began serious study of her Jewish heritage and spirituality in 1986 after a life-threatening illness. She has written articles on listening, anxiety, spirituality, and money which are posted on her website, www.livingwealth.com.

Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg

Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg is a second-generation rabbi and serves the members of Temple Bnai Torah in Bellevue, Washington. She brings her love of Jewish art, culture, and sacred text to her work with people of all ages. Rabbi Kinberg was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2003 and currently lives in Olympia with her husband Rabbi Seth Goldstein and two wonderful sons.