The concept of middot or “soul traits” inspires a deeper exploration of our inner lives and how we bring Jewish values into our practical daily lives. Working with this traditional Jewish ethical and spiritual practice, nearly lost in the Holocaust, we will identify and new pieces exploring our personalities and spiritual identities. No previous writing or Mussar experience required. 

Jannie M. Dresser, MFA, has taught poetry, literature, and cultural history related to the Arts at Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI), California State University East Bay, San Francisco State University, and the University of California Berkeley, as well as a private teacher of poetry and memoir writing. She has spent 15 years in weekly Torah study and classes on Judaism and Jewish history, as a member of Temple Sinai in Oakland since 1996. She has practiced and studied Mussar for over 10 years, embracing it as a practical way to integrate Jewish values and understanding into daily life.

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