The Shabbat Effect

What if one day of rest could transform your entire life?
One of the most important biblical mandates, so significant that it numbers among the Ten Commandments, is the directive to observe a weekly day of rest. The Shabbat Effect illuminates how the practice of a day set aside for rest brings about a deep, lasting, and pervasive transformation of character, not just on that seventh day but every day. Drawing on venerable Jewish sources as well as the experiences of contemporary practitioners, this user-friendly and accessible guide explores the eight essential traits that reflect the true meaning of Shabbat.

Rooted in the 1,100-year-old Jewish tradition of Mussar as well as the experiences of contemporary practitioners, this accessible guide offers a radical and moving exploration of how the practice of Shabbat enhances and refines core traits of character. Readers will find that it contributes immeasurably to their enjoyment of life, as well as helping them fulfill their highest human potential.

Author Biography

Alan Morinis, PhD, founded The Mussar Institute in 2004 and is a leading figure in the contemporary revival of the Mussar movement. A Rhodes Scholar and an anthropologist, he became a student of the late Rabbi Yechiel Perr in 1977, an accomplished master of the Mussar tradition. Following years of study, he reinterpreted the ancient Mussar learnings and practices for modern audiences in Climbing Jacob’s Ladder (2002); Everyday Holiness (2007); Every Day, Holy Day (2010); and With Heart in Mind (2014).