A Call to Mussarniks: Grow the Tov, by Beulah Trey
I’m writing this to you the day before the election. By the time you read it, we will know how the election turns out. We may not know who the next President is, but we will know more than we do today. One thing of which I am sure, on all sides of the political divide, there will be much uncertainty and very likely ‘acting out behavior,’ or in Mussar language, much Yetzer haRa, the inclination towards evil or as CCM defines it, self absorption. Let’s just call it negativity.
As Mussarniks, it is vital that we remember our core foundational Mussar commitment to bring middot, Mussar values, into every aspect of our lives. It is crucial that we remember to restore our semi-permeable Nefesh and make sure that the Yetzer haRa stops with us! While we cannot be responsible for all that others will do as the political process unfolds, we can take responsibility for the moments when the negativity all around us, infects us. It is then that we remind ourselves to rely on our Mussar tools. We can turn to holy texts or wise teachers whose words give us perspective and remind us of our pursuit of holiness. We can journal. We can pray. We can find 5 things to be grateful for. We can call a fellow Mussarnik and ask for their assistance working through a moment or moments. We can remind ourselves of the middot, the values, and find those that are most useful to restoring our focus on Tov, goodness and being of service to others.
I am especially drawn to the middah of Savlanut, patience. I appreciate how Rav Mendel of Satanov, in Cheshbon haNefesh, begins the definition of the middah/value. He reminds us that we turn to the middah of Savlanut/Patience when bad things happen. When we are assaulted by waves of Yetzer haRa, there is no doubt that a bad thing is happening. Rav Mendel reminds us that we can be woken up by the assault, and turn to our Mussar practice. Next, we investigate whether we had any control of the situation, and in all likelihood, with the negativity that might occur after the election, we will not have direct control. The Cheshbon haNefesh then reminds us that we do have control over our response to the ‘bad thing.’ He reminds us not to ‘aggravate the situation with wasted grief.’ And so we focus on not doing any of those things we do to grow the negativity that ‘the bad thing’ wrought. With our balance restored, we then focus our attention on how best to be of service in the moment. Not in a big way, but a little way. What next step will we take to bring goodness, to be of service?
What else have you found that wakes you up to the possibility of Tov, or goodness, to the joy of being of service? What has helped you work through difficult Mussar moments? These next few days is a good time to remind ourselves and each other. As we head into the coming political times, may the work that we’ve been doing to bring Yetzer haTov, goodness, into our worlds sustain us. May we support each other in maintaining our Mussar commitments. And may we find joy in joining with others to pursue social justice causes that we believe in.
I close with our Shehechiyanu Bracha, our Shehechiyanu blessing, and cultivate gratitude that we have been renewed, fortified and brought into the present moment where goodness and holiness is possible. And may we all know that we are born for this moment, that we practice for moments like these.
Let us come together as a community and capture the Yetzer haRa and transform the energy into Tov, into goodness.
Keyn Yehi Ratzon, May it be the Divine Will.
Best,
Beulah Trey
CCM Mashgiach Ruchani/Director of Curriculum & Practice
