Question:
Countless mussar seforim have been written in the history of K'lal Yisrael. Some have been more publicized than others. Out of the next 5, which one has had the most direct impact on your life?

For me, it's gotta be Sha'arei Teshuva

Choices:
Sha'arei Teshuva/Igeret HaTeshuva
Mesilat Yesharim
Orchot Tzadikim
Derech Hashem
Other (please specify)

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Yair,

I've also gained immense spiritual strength from 'Chovot HaLevovot' and 'Cheshbon HaNefesh'.

Somehow, those two (and 'Sha'arei Teshuva') "spoke" to me more than any others.

So... anyone else have any words to say about the aforementioned Mussar seforim?

I am just really getting into Mesilat Yesharim but hope to have something constructive soon. I would also like to posit a question. Which translation of the Kuzari do people like best for English?

Alei Shur. Runs the gamut from inspirational theory to how to get started pragmatically.

And I found it to be a real "page turner" too!

I find that the Sefer Mesilas Yesharim is a top notch sefer for one to study, and when one has the ability to hear a Gadol translating and commenting on each of the lines, like that of Rav Avigdor Miller ZT"L via his tape series, (the picture on my profile is of Rav A. Miller) it is incredible and it sure has changed my view on life.

Mesilas yeshorim for me.I have a 20 minute seder on it everyday before "First Seder" and it is truly a great Sefer.

They print a version here in Israel that breaks the sefer sections for each day. You finish the sefer once a month and it only takes 20 minutes a day. Its great!

I want to add one more sefer to the list. The Tomer Devorah written by Rabbi Moshe Kordovero (Ramak). This sefer goes through the 13 midos of mercy (the ones we say in tashlich from the book of Micha) and describes how we can emulate the midos of our Creator. I was learning it on Rosh Hashana and I found it to be very powerful. I do not claim do fully understand it - as the Ramak was a great Mekubal and a contemporary of the Ari Z'L, so a lot of what he says is over my head - but there is plenty of down to earth mussar as well.

The mussar seforim that get to me most are the ones that derive their points through digging through divrei chazal-The Rabbis- in an academic fashion. I refer to books like sichos mussar by Rabbi Chaim Shmuelivitz or by rabbi Michel Barenbaum.

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Mitterhoff:
They print a version here in Israel that breaks the sefer sections for each day. You finish the sefer once a month and it only takes 20 minutes a day. Its great!

Is there any way to purchase the sefer online?

I dont think so but I can check.

What would the name of the Sefer be and the publisher?

I've had the great z'chus (merit) to learn from 18 Mussar seforim, B"H. The one that gave me trouble was Shaarei Kedusha (R' Chaim Vital), if I remember correctly. It was extremely deep and very complicated. Did anyone else who went through this sefer find it difficult?

Madregas Ha'Adam, the Alter of Novarodock's magnum opus, is my favorite mussar sefer. I think for many of us part of the appeal of a sefer machshava (Jewish thought) lies in the role it has played/continues to play in our hisorerus (spiritual awakening). Ten years ago, when I was going through one of my periodic spiritual growth spurts, I found great inspiration in the Alter's book. I also found it to be very compatible with my particular Chassidishe mahalach (lifestyle). To this day this sefer is like no other to me.

Shalom Hillel and welcome aboard,

Interesting, I didnt know that the Chassidishe oilam learn "Madregas Ha'Adam. Which particular Chassidus do you belong to?

Hi Sam. I don't know if the Chassidishe oilam studies Madregas Ha'Adam and would be very curious to find out too; I came to Chassidus "on my own," i.e., after being raised Modern Orthodox and studying in Israeli MO institutions. Not to mention that I served in Tzahal for three years. Socially, therefore, I'm certainly not an insider to the Chassidic velt. However, Novarodock is in my blood: My great maternal grandfather, R Yehoshua Zelig Tarshish, the Kelmer Kaddosh was related (via marriage) to the Alter. I can also tell you that Novarodock welcomed Chassidishe bachurim long before lasting Sholom broke out between the Litvish and Chassidish machanot. Since you ask, I identify with Breslov. I'm a clinical psychologist and I find mussar and chassidus (and all of Torah for that matter) more enlightening than any of my secular texts.

I voted other because their are no greater teachers of Mussar and Derech Eretz then our Neviim. If they were here today giving Mussar Im sure many upon many of their listeners would be left as quivering blobs.

quote:

Originally posted by Yair:
Countless mussar seforim have been written in the history of K'lal Yisrael. Some have been more publicized than others. Out of the next 5, which one has had the most direct impact on your life?

For me, it's gotta be Sha'arei Teshuva

HERE, HERE. I Agree.

Yes, of course the neviim and cha'zal are the main source of all mussar and haskofo. The "other" seforim just elucidate their often cryptic language. The gemorrah say's (I don't remember where) that the words of the chachomim are compared to the stars. The baalei mussar teach us that we need the wisdom of the later and contemporary chachomim to comprehend their words, just as we need a telescope to be able to gaze at the planets and stars.