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What does Kirva mean? 

Kirva is the Hebrew word for “closeness.” According to Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, the great Mussar teacher of the late 20th century, the essential state of the world is one of closeness and connection—closeness with ourselves, one another, the planet, and with HaShem. Oppression flourishes in our world because we forget these connections. The Hebrew word for cruelty, Achzariyut, can be understood as coming from the letters K-Zar, like a stranger. Cruelty and oppression grow when we estrange from others, from the planet, from ourselves, and from the Divine. The goal of Mussar, and spiritual practice in general, is to overcome this estrangement, remember our essential closeness, and create a world free from cruelty and oppression. Inspired by this teaching and vision, Kirva makes spiritual practices accessible to those working for social change.