December 2, 2022
Middot are character traits expressed in our behavior that can impact our relationships. Participants in Beth Emet’s Tikkun Middot groups follow the innovative national program developed by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, built on the Jewish tradition of Mussar, to cultivate moral traits such as patience, compassion, trust, and mindful speech.
Monthly on Sunday afternoons, January- June
Are you thinking of retiring? Is your nest emptying? Are you facing age-related challenges or moving from one phase of life to another? Are you sandwiched between generations? Do you have fewer stairs to climb professionally and are more interested in making your next chapter meaningful? We will address these and other situations through a wide range of Tikkun Middot practices to focus on our personal characteristics, traits, or virtues, and employ curiosity and openness to investigate our internal and external reactions to situations. Through this lens, we will look at issues of aging and consider how choice points can help us create openings for personal and spiritual growth and turn away from reactive behaviors. Together, we will consider how to reframe life’s peaks and valleys into opportunities for growth and change, meeting monthly to examine how we wish to navigate this new landscape. Limited to 14 participants.
Interested? Contact Marci Dickman
Monthly, January- June; Specific days and times to be determined by the participants
The Va’ad focuses on a particular character trait each month, and each session includes meditation, mindfulness practice, study of Jewish and secular texts, and self-reflection. Between sessions, participants work with a chevruta (partner) on specific exercises to explore the internal and external obstacles and opportunities present in each moment in order to access wiser, more wholesome choices. In the words of a congregant participating in Tikkun Middot practice for their fifth year: “It is a blessing in my life and has gently pushed me to review and develop how I connect and interact with others, self, and with God… Learning and practicing Tikkun Middot has been a lifesaver for me. It was the place I turned to when I was confused about how to live in this unusual time.” The group is open to congregants of all ages and interests.
