Slabadka Mussar Practice: Three Key Principles According to Rabbi Avi Fertig

Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka

Recently, I watched a delightful webinar by Rabbi Avi Fertig about the Slabodka Mussar Practice. Rabbi Fertig is the Associate Dean of the  Mussar Institute, and this webinar was a members only event, so I cannot share a link to it here. Background: Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the 19th Century Mussar Movement, had three key disciples, each of whom started their own school of Mussar. Slabodka was started by Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel,  who was known as the Alter of Slabodka.

I absolutely loved learning about the teachings of this flavor of Mussar because they so closely align with the principles of American Mussar.   Here are the three key principles of Slabodka Mussar practice.

Slabodka Mussar Practice Principle #1: Pleasure

Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka wanted people to study Mussar because it was good, and pleasurable. As a proof text he sited Psalms 34:9. Taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed are those who take shelter in Him. He wanted pleasure seekers as students in his Yeshivot, and to direct their pleasure towards the spiritual realm. He taught that are so used to physical pleasures, we do not appreciate them. This is a core teaching of the soul trait of Gratitude.

Slabodka Mussar Practice Principle #2: Individuality

The Alter of Slabodka taught that each student is different, and needs to be dealt with in his/her unique way. His proof text was from Talmud Pesachim 118a,”God punishes each person based on his means.”  Slabodka schools demanded individuality of each student. One can’t imitate others, and we each need to go our own way. This was not a one size fits all approach to parenting and education, which was radial in its day. He wanted his students to think and rethink, as a way of building the individual world of each student. Thus, he demanded that students think for themselves and think deeply.

Slabodka Mussar Practice Principle #3: The Greatness of Human Beings

Finally, Rabbi Finkel stressed that each person is created in the likeness of God. This is a huge contrast to Rabbi Salanter’s approach of focusing on deficiencies. Finkel stressed that each of us has great potential. We are great and amazing right now. Because of that, we have enormous capacity to bring good into the world. Here in the webinar, Rabbi Fertig shared that he is the product of a Slabodka Yeshiva. As a student, he felt special and unique. He was taught that when you look at another human being, realize you are seeing God’s presence in the world.

The Alter of Slabodka hired a tailor to be at the yeshiva, so students would feel like the image of God. Seeing one’s own greatness is a catapult towards greatness. Dressing well is a reminder to perfect yourself because that is your true form.

I particularly love this last teaching. We all have a Divine Spark occluded by our baggage. Mussar helps us move the bags, and let the light shine through.

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