Musar movement

Jewish ethical self-improvement movement The Musar movement (Hebrew: תְּנוּעַת הַמוּסָר, romanized: tnūʿat ha-Mūsar; also spelled Mussar) is an ethical, educational, and cultural movement in Judaism that developed in 19th-century Lithuania, particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. Musar (Biblical Hebrew: מוּסָר) is derived from Proverbs 1:2, wherein the author of the book of Proverbs uses the term to describe moral behavior, instruction, and discipline, with an emphasis on educating oneself about how to act properly. The term was used by the originators of the Musar movement to convey teachings regarding ethical and spiritual paths found in the Musar literature (סִפְרוּת הַמוּסָר, sifrūt ha-Mūsar). The Musar movement made significant contributions to the Musar literature and Jewish ethics. The movement was revived in the 21st century among Jews of all denominations, particularly in Canada and the United States. Origin The Musar movement arose among non-Hasidic Misnagdim Orthodox Lithuanian Jews as a response to the social changes brought about by the Enlightenment and the corresponding Haskalah movement among many European Jews. In th