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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In Their Own Words: Middot of the Matriarchs, Part I
3-4:30 p.m. CT, four Sundays* | Sept. 28 - 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.
*Class will meet Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Nov. 2, Dec. 7
*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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Weekly Mussar Meditations
10-10:30 a.m. ET | Wednesdays
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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Foundations: Kibbush 2
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT Sundays, weekly | Sept. 7 - Dec. 7, 2025
Not open to new students; class will meet in person.
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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.
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Tomer Devorah Plus
7:30-9:30 p.m. ET, Mondays | Sept. 15 - Dec. 8
A continuation of Tomer Devorah; the class is currently up to Chapter 12 in a review of "Mesillat Yesharim."
*This class is for graduates of the CCM curriculum. New students should contact the madrich before registering at Martin.jacobs@verizon.net.
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.