A Jewish Path to Personal and Collective Change

In collaboration with the Inside Out Wisdom and Action (IOWA) Project, BWC is excited to host a mussar class this summer that seeks to explore the integration of Jewish spirituality into our justice works to support them in becoming more sustainable, powerful, and transformative.

Mussar is an ancient Jewish practice of spiritual and ethical reflection, development, and meditation.

Over the course of four sessions, we will discuss questions including: What's the relationship between individual and systemic change? How can you stay grounded for the long haul that both kinds of change require? What kind of change work are you called to do in this world? How can you show up as your best self while doing the work?

Through personal and small group reflection, text study and practice, we will explore the topics of motivation, choice, gratitude and rest. Together, we will integrate personal practice with our work for communal and social change.

Course Dates (all sessions are 7-9pm):

Session 1: 6/25

Session 2: 7/2

Session 3: 7/10

Session 4: 8/6

Course Location: Member home in Jamaica Plain (will be sent address upon registering)

Registration Cost: $60 - $120 (includes all 4 sessions)

To Register: bit.ly/MussarRegistration

**To facilitate active discussion and because of space constraints, this course is limited to 15 participants and is only open to BWC members. June is BWC's membership month - your membership helps to sustain our secular activist community and classes like this! Membership is sliding scale starting at $36 for the year, visit www.circleboston.org/membership to join or renew) Not sure about your membership status? Email michelle@circleboston.org.

Instructor Bio: Rabbi Alex Weissman

Ordained in 2017 at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Alex has served in various capacities with communities and organizations like JOIN for Justice, Avodah, Brandeis Reconstructionist Organization, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Temple Shalom of Newton, Wissahickon Hospice, Hebrew SeniorLife, T'ruah, and Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild. Prior to rabbinical school, Alex served as the Social Justice Coordinator at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and worked as a researcher, educator, and counselor in various LGBTQ public health organizations working on issues of HIV/AIDS, substance use, and partner abuse.

He is a lover of Talmud, mussar, theology, and community organizing. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, reading, trapeze, and keeping up with his three brothers in Philadelphia, Boston, and Be'er Sheva. Alex lives in Providence with his husband Adam.