The Mussar Movement די מוסר באוועגונג

Rabbi Yisroel Salanter

The Mussar movement is attributed to Rabbi Yisroel Lipkin Salanter (1810–1883), although mussar seforim long predated him ^[1]. His innovation was to make it a structured practice: a daily time for mussar, with reflection and cheshbon hanefesh ^[1]. He had three mussar works reprinted in Vilna, among them the Ramchal's "Mesillas Yesharim" ^[1].

From Kovno across Lithuania

Rabbi Yisroel founded a mussar yeshiva in Kovno, and his students set up yeshivas in Kelm, Telz and elsewhere ^[1]. Later every Litvish yeshiva adopted a mussar seder and a mashgiach. Three famous schools grew from it: Kelm with its order, Slabodka with "gadlus ha'adam", and Novardok with its fire.

A Chasidish view

Chasidim look at mussar with great respect and a smile. Chasidim work on themselves at a tish with a niggun and a l'chaim; Litvaks in a quiet beis medrash with the slow mussar tune. The goal is the same: a better Yid.