Arts & Entertainment Everyday Holiness Book on Mussar takes readers on a journey of reflection and change throughout the year. Suzanne Chessler At a particular point in my life, I felt a really pressing need for guidance and sign- posts to make sense of life and to see that I was living in a way that was really wise,' lan Morinis describes a turning says Morinis, 60, whose journey into Mussar point in his life as the time he began when he was 47. stumbled upon the Jewish tradi- "There are a lot of foolish ways to live, and tions of Mussar, a system of introspective I was living some of them. I read a book that practices leading to daily living directed had a chapter about Mussar. I never heard of toward holiness. the word before, but I found old traditions That turning point resulted in a wider per- with modern applications." sonal perspective and a career change that Morinis' own introduction to Mussar is would impact others. recalled in his book Climbing Besides launching the Mussar Jacob's Ladder. The teachings of Institute to teach the beliefs and Mussar are explored in his new their applications, Morinis has book, Everyday Holiness: The written about his approach to Jewish Spiritual Path to Mussar. Mussar self-development, most "My latest book provides a recently with the book Every Day, practical tool for Jewish spiritual Holy Day: 365 Days of Teachings & practice of a kind that was not Practices from the Jewish Tradition available before," says Morinis, Rabbi B ennett: of Mussar (Trumpeter; $17.95). whose earlier careers involved "In man y ways, Morinis, who has introduced the teaching anthropology at the Mussar practices practices during speaking engage- university level and producing are simi lar to ments in Michigan, has encour- feature films and documentaries. yoga." aged the establishment of local "I felt for a long time that a book Mussar groups, the first two orga- like this was needed." nized by separate teams: Rabbi Josh Bennett The book explores 26 basic traits (mid- of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and Julie dot), including honor, compassion, generos- August, a yoga teacher and vice president of ity, courage and strength. The idea is to focus Temple Israel; and Roann Altman and Judy on one a week, through contemplation and Freedman in Ann Arbor. exercises, so that each reader can refine that Two more groups are being developed. trait in daily endeavors. Special to the Jewish News A r>,± The book is divided according to two read- Alan Morinis: "People ing cycles with each who feel they don't trait covered once need to improve need within each cycle. it more than anybody As each trait is week and then practice it for a week. else." presented, there are The origin of Mussar goes back to anecdotes, comments, a the 10th century, when it essentially repeated phrase to summarize the essence of was a solitary pursuit. Mussar was reinvigo- the trait and journal space for the reader to rated as a social/spiritual movement in 19th- report on what has been done to achieve the century Lithuania inspired by Rabbi Yisrael trait in moderation. Salanter. "In many ways, Mussar practices are "It's no coincidence that my new book is similar to yoga': says Rabbi Bennett, whose coming out at this time of year," says Morinis, sessions can include between 10 and 18 based in Canada. "The publisher recognized participants. "Mussar can be a mind-body- in its commercial wisdom what we as Jews soul experience although Mussar isn't as have recognized in our spiritual wisdom. physical." "The month of Elul, leading up to Rosh Rabbi Bennett explains that the study is Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is not just anoth- the intellectual part, and the application to er month. It is a time of preparation, and the daily living relates to the physical aspects. book comes out at this time because it's a The Jewish traditions have to do with the time of intensified introspection. soul. "Day by day, over Elul, we do the stock- "Our first group began when we were taking, reflection and self-evaluation so that lucky enough to bring Alan Morinis in as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur can be very a community speaker," Rabbi Bennett says. effective' "After that, Julie and I went through a train- Morinis says that his book reaches out to ing program. The idea is for participants to cover the entire year because of its founda- develop new attitudes of personal growth." tion in Jewish teachings that extend the Although the rabbi is affiliated with journey of reflection and change throughout Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, the group the year. is open to the entire community. Participants "I believe that people who feel they don't study a particular soul characteristic for one need to improve need it more than anybody Jews Nate Bloom Special to the Jewish News Frenzied Films The Extra Man, scheduled to open Friday, Sept.10, is a comic romp built on the friendship of two eccentrics, the younger portrayed by actor Paul Dano and the elder by actor Kevin Kline, 62. Dano plays a teacher at a fancy prep school who Kevin Kline has a quirky habit of wearing women's underwear though heterosexual. His garment choice is exposed — and he is forced to resign. He moves to New York City and gets a magazine job, 44 September 9 2 010 where he meets his love interest (Katie Holmes). But most of the flick is about his wild urban adventures with Henry (Kline), an indigent play- wright who rents him a room. Henry makes a few bucks escorting wealthy Marian Seldes widows to society functions. Playing one of these widows is Broadway acting legend Marian Seldes, 82. The film is directed and co-written by the husband-and-wife team of Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman, 46 (American Splendor). It's based on a novel by Jonathan Ames The new documentary I'm Still Here, also scheduled to open Friday, Joaquin & Summer Phoenix (HBO's Bored to Death), who contrib- uted to the screenplay. In 2008, Joaquin Phoenix (Best Actor Oscar nominee for Walk the Line) announced he was retiring from acting in favor of a budding career as a rap musician. Questions were asked, now and then, like: Was this an elaborate hoax? Was, or is, Joaquin, now 35, mentally ill? Sept.10, might answer these ques- tions, as well as providing an in-depth look at career reinvention. Filmed over two years, the docu- mentary is the work of actor Casey Affleck — the brother of actor Ben Affleck, the best friend of Joaquin and the husband of Joaquin's sister, former actress Summer Phoenix, 31. The Phoenix siblings (including the late actor River Phoenix) are the children of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father. Joaquin has long described himself as nonreligious. By the way, Casey and Summer have continued the Phoenix fam- ily tradition of colorful names. They have two young sons, named Indiana August Affleck and Atticus Affleck.