Said to Myself

Mussar Meets the Science of Character

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I wanted to share a new resource inspired by Tiffany Shlain’s Periodic Table of Character Strengths.  Titled “Making Mensches Periodic Table”, I hope this poster will inspire discussion about how to develop Middot, character traits.  I’ve intentionally left it as an informational resource for you, your family, or your organization to utilize in whatever creative way you find relevant.

To get the creativity flowing, I’ve included some questions for camp’s to consider as they discuss organizational visioning, personal development for staff and campers, and ways for you or your staff turn these ideas into a program or initiative at camp.

I am continuing to develop additional educational resources surrounding this project.  If you would like to contribute any suggestions, please contact me or just comment below.  For those of you who missed Tiffany Shlain’s presentation at the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Leaders Assembly, or just want a refresher, you can view The Science of Character (8 min.)here.  Please let me know how you use this.

Mussar Meets the Science of Character

Questions to Consider at Camp

2 responses to “Mussar Meets the Science of Character”

  1. Neil Harris Avatar
    Neil Harris

    Wow, this is gevaldik, and it looks awesome!!!

    Reply
  2. Backpocket Jewish Wisdom | Said to Myself Avatar
    Backpocket Jewish Wisdom | Said to Myself

    […] back pocket. ImProverbs is a playful mashup of form (see folding instructions below) and content (lessons on being a Mensch).  The idea of a mashup of Proverbs and improv comes from Danny Messenger, a friend from Camp. […]

    Reply

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But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then erase me out of the book you have written.

~ Exodus 32:32

Said to Myself

About

My name is Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow. I have always had a deep love for the Jewish people and making the world a better place. It was while building community in the Former Soviet Union for YUSSR that I realized the transformative power of being a rabbi. After spending time learning in Israel, I moved to New York to be a charter student in Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, the Open Orthodox Seminary. After graduating in 2004 until 2008 I served as the Rabbi and ran the program at St. Louis Hillel at Washington University. Now I have the great pleasure of thinking about how Judaism is seriously fun. In my mind I am up at camp every day in my work at the Foundation for Jewish Camp. My wife, Cantor Adina Frydman, and I are the proud parents of Yadid, Yishama, Emunah, and Libi.

Said to Myself

When my son Yadid was four years old he came home from daycare and reported to me that he got into trouble. He got put into timeout for throwing sand at another child. Yadid said,” Myself said to myself, I do not want to be in timeout. Myself said to my cry, I do not want to cry”. And with that we started a conversation about his conscious life. It seemed only fitting to continue that conversation with a blog with the same name.

אָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי בְּלִבִּי

My son spoke in the words of Ecclesiastes, “I said in my heart: ‘Come now, I will try you with mirth, and enjoy pleasure’; and, behold, this also was vanity.” (Kohelet 2:1) My mission is to model a life that is personally meaningful, universally relevant, and distinctly Jewish. I aspire to be frank and to speak of Torah in real life.

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