Kirva

Integrating Jewish Spiritual Practice with Social Justice 

Kirva fuses the Jewish spiritual practices of Mussar and Chassidut with social justice efforts, creating a powerful synthesis that fuels both personal growth and effective systemic change. Its approach recognizes that lasting social transformation requires inner work, drawing from Jewish wisdom traditions to strengthen activists and change-makers. 

Small Group Program: Fight Like a Mensch 

Kirva’s “Fight Like a Mensch” program brings Mussar and Chassidic spiritual wisdom to support pro-democracy work in the United States. It’s launching 8-10 groups with 8-10 participants each, meeting biweekly for 10 sessions over five months (January-June). This intensive model includes weekly chevruta (paired learning) partnerships between formal sessions. 

Participants commit to approximately 15 minutes of daily practice including journaling and meditation. Kirva provides comprehensive support including recruitment assistance, curriculum development, training and mentoring for facilitators, and ongoing coaching throughout the program duration. 

Its curriculum focuses on specific middot (character traits) such as savlanut (forbearance), anava (humility), courage, and managing fear and heartbreak

Wisdom of Head, Heart, and Hand 

Kirva defines Jewish wisdom as spanning 3,000 years of Jewish thought and practice, encompassing both learning and embodied action. Its curriculum focuses on specific middot (character traits) such as savlanut (forbearance), anava (humility), courage, and managing fear and heartbreak in the context of democracy work. 

Each session follows a structured five-part format: “hachana” (preparation through meditation or journaling), “loving accountability” partner check-ins about practice, learning related to the session topic, experiential “head/heart” work through meditation or chanting, and closing reflection on future practice commitments. 

Expert-Led Leadership Development 

Kirva selects facilitators from its existing community of practitioners who have at least one year of experience with Mussar or similar spiritual practices, plus facilitation experience. Leaders participate in comprehensive training after the High Holy Days and attend retreats that include specialized programming for facilitators. 

Facilitators receive ongoing mentorship during the five-month program, participate in Signal groups for peer support and sharing, and attend regular check-in sessions. The sessions serve as both group guides and pastoral supports, available for individual consultations and equipped to refer participants to Kirva staff for content-related questions.