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Every Day, Holy Day: 365 Days of Teachings and Practices from the Jewish Tradition of Mussar
"You shall be holy," teaches the Bible. The masters of the Jewish Mussar tradition have crafted a roadmap to help people approach that lofty goal. Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life.
Every Day, Holy Day is an essential companion for anyone who wants to experience the life-changing gifts of Mussar. The program laid out in this book focuses on 26 traits ( middot )—such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity—each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself.
Alan Morinis invites you to follow the Mussar path with him for a year. It is remarkably simple, and also remarkably effective in helping you overcome negative tendencies and strengthen positive ones—and to reveal your innate holiness in the process.
Every Day, Holy Day is an essential companion for anyone who wants to experience the life-changing gifts of Mussar. The program laid out in this book focuses on 26 traits ( middot )—such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity—each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself.
Alan Morinis invites you to follow the Mussar path with him for a year. It is remarkably simple, and also remarkably effective in helping you overcome negative tendencies and strengthen positive ones—and to reveal your innate holiness in the process.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2010
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173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 25, 2019
As I grow older my need for faith and God dominates my being more so than anything and other things become pale. My family is all important but not for Him that gives life, they would not exist. I have not lead the typical religious life as many have, both parents of the same faith helping their child to learn about God. At a young age my father left the Catholic church and went into a religion that was seen as a kind of cult. I went to CCD (Catholic classes for the young) and at that time my parents divorced. I had my dad pulling me to his religion and my mom in the dark thinking he would be true to his word. My mom was a spiritual being that kept things to herself; so unlike my dad my mom kind of went the other way, in not talking about God. So at an early age, I became lost and lost what belief in God I had but thankfully it came back slowly. I tell you all this because at any age you can start again where you should have really taken to heart in your youth! I decided on this Mussar 365 day practice to have another avenue to coming closer to God and improving myself as a person. Since I started to read the Bible and take to heart Daily Devotionals, I feel a calmness in life I had not truly felt and the desire to be good in all ways possible. I am yet human so I will never be perfect but I keep reaching for my best in my interactions with others.
This Kindle book helped me focus on all things that make one better, which I listed the weeks below and their focuses. Am I a better person? I certainly hope so but have much to improve and will keep my spiritual journey going until I take my last breath.
Gratitude: Week 1 Enthusiasm: Week 2 Joy: Week 3 Strength: Week 4 Loving-kindness: Week 5 Order: Week 6 Equanimity: Week 7
Honor: Week 8 Humility: Week 9 Generosity: Week 10 Watchfulness: Week 11 Judging Others Favorably: Week 12 Calmness: Week 13 Patience: Week 14
Love: Week 15 Abstinence: Week 16 Compassion: Week 17 Modesty: Week 18 Willingness: Week 19 Simplicity: Week 20 Courage: Week 21
Trust: Week 22 Faith: Week 23 Truth: Week 24 Silence: Week 25 Awe: Week 26 Gratitude: Week 27 Enthusiasm: Week 28
Joy: Week 29 Strength: Week 30 Loving-kindness: Week 31 Order: Week 32 Equanimity: Week 33 Honor: Week 34 Humility: Week 35
Generosity: Week 36 Watchfulness: Week 37 Judging Others Favorably: Week 38 Calmness: Week 39 Patience: Week 40 Love: Week 41 Abstinence: Week 42
Compassion: Week 43 Modesty: Week 44 Willingness: Week 45 Simplicity: Week 46 Courage: Week 47 Trust: Week 48 Faith: Week 49 Truth: Week 50 Silence: Week 51 Awe: Week 52
This Kindle book helped me focus on all things that make one better, which I listed the weeks below and their focuses. Am I a better person? I certainly hope so but have much to improve and will keep my spiritual journey going until I take my last breath.
Gratitude: Week 1 Enthusiasm: Week 2 Joy: Week 3 Strength: Week 4 Loving-kindness: Week 5 Order: Week 6 Equanimity: Week 7
Honor: Week 8 Humility: Week 9 Generosity: Week 10 Watchfulness: Week 11 Judging Others Favorably: Week 12 Calmness: Week 13 Patience: Week 14
Love: Week 15 Abstinence: Week 16 Compassion: Week 17 Modesty: Week 18 Willingness: Week 19 Simplicity: Week 20 Courage: Week 21
Trust: Week 22 Faith: Week 23 Truth: Week 24 Silence: Week 25 Awe: Week 26 Gratitude: Week 27 Enthusiasm: Week 28
Joy: Week 29 Strength: Week 30 Loving-kindness: Week 31 Order: Week 32 Equanimity: Week 33 Honor: Week 34 Humility: Week 35
Generosity: Week 36 Watchfulness: Week 37 Judging Others Favorably: Week 38 Calmness: Week 39 Patience: Week 40 Love: Week 41 Abstinence: Week 42
Compassion: Week 43 Modesty: Week 44 Willingness: Week 45 Simplicity: Week 46 Courage: Week 47 Trust: Week 48 Faith: Week 49 Truth: Week 50 Silence: Week 51 Awe: Week 52
February 14, 2016
I've set aside a year in large part to focus on Mussar study. Part of this involves dabbling in studies of the writings of several masters. Morinis (completely a master of modern times in this subject) caught my attention with his other book 'Everyday Holiness.' This one is somewhat of a pocket edition/journal edition of that one, but alas not as good. Pros: Morinis opens each section with his own introductions, and shares from a wide variety of sources. He keeps up the same theme for a week, and re-introduces the theme after a full cycle of themes has been through. Each time a theme comes back, the focus builds appropriately on what has gone before it. Cons: A few of the excerpts repeat, and the meditations and with a few exceptions most of the writings were too simplistic to hold my attention. Also, were I a journaling sort, the amount of space given for writing isn't enough unless folks are planning to pour out their hearts in about two lines. Overall, pros win, though. Use another notebook to journal in. This book should still be on your list if you're beginning Mussar.
April 20, 2023
It felt like the author was channeling Benjamin Franklin and his idea of tackling one's character defects one at a time, not trying to be too good all at once but methodically improving one's attitudes a little at a time... in a Jewish way. (FYI, I am Jewish.)
The Mussar Movement is sort of the alternative to Chasidism. If you like Chasidism, I suggest looking into Rabbi Nathan of Breslov.
This is self-help stuff and I can't help drawing a comparison with Alcoholics Anonymous. Many of the things that the author talked about in this book could be found in any number of books from AA.
I'm not sure if I will read this book again, per se, but it has made me want to read more from the author and to look more into the Mussar Movement.
The Mussar Movement is sort of the alternative to Chasidism. If you like Chasidism, I suggest looking into Rabbi Nathan of Breslov.
This is self-help stuff and I can't help drawing a comparison with Alcoholics Anonymous. Many of the things that the author talked about in this book could be found in any number of books from AA.
I'm not sure if I will read this book again, per se, but it has made me want to read more from the author and to look more into the Mussar Movement.
November 17, 2025
My book club chose Every Day, Holy Day this year, and I’m genuinely glad they did. I’m not totally new to Judaism, but the Mussar tradition—this centuries-old Jewish path of character refinement—was new to me. The title captures the book perfectly: it really is a daily companion for cultivating inner qualities, grounded in Jewish wisdom.
Each week focuses on one soul-trait, such as humility, simplicity, patience, truth, awe, modesty, or judging others favourably. I loved the structure: every day you get a brief reflection—truly a minute or two—followed by a phrase to carry with you. For example, during the week devoted to judging others favourably, the phrase was: “There’s another side to the story.” Each week also includes a simple but meaningful practice; in that same week, the prompt was: “Take every opportunity to give people the benefit of the doubt.”
That combination of a short teaching, a takeaway phrase, a weekly practice, and a small journaling section (about a third of the page) makes the book extremely accessible and genuinely practical. It isn’t just something you read—it’s something you do.
Morinis pulls from Torah verses, rabbinic writings, and stories from Mussar teachers throughout history. If you’re not Jewish, some references may feel unfamiliar or not fully resonate, and that’s okay. You can reflect on them, set them aside, or simply appreciate the wisdom behind them. There is still so much here that is universally meaningful. Anyone—regardless of belief—can benefit from growing in compassion, humility, kindness, generosity, and awareness.
Overall, this is a gentle, thoughtful guide for anyone looking to build character in small, daily steps. Not every page struck me equally, and I didn’t agree with everything, but the book’s steady rhythm and practical emphasis make it a valuable companion. I can easily see myself revisiting certain weeks in the future.
A rich and accessible introduction to Mussar—and a lovely way to make each day just a little more intentional.
Each week focuses on one soul-trait, such as humility, simplicity, patience, truth, awe, modesty, or judging others favourably. I loved the structure: every day you get a brief reflection—truly a minute or two—followed by a phrase to carry with you. For example, during the week devoted to judging others favourably, the phrase was: “There’s another side to the story.” Each week also includes a simple but meaningful practice; in that same week, the prompt was: “Take every opportunity to give people the benefit of the doubt.”
That combination of a short teaching, a takeaway phrase, a weekly practice, and a small journaling section (about a third of the page) makes the book extremely accessible and genuinely practical. It isn’t just something you read—it’s something you do.
Morinis pulls from Torah verses, rabbinic writings, and stories from Mussar teachers throughout history. If you’re not Jewish, some references may feel unfamiliar or not fully resonate, and that’s okay. You can reflect on them, set them aside, or simply appreciate the wisdom behind them. There is still so much here that is universally meaningful. Anyone—regardless of belief—can benefit from growing in compassion, humility, kindness, generosity, and awareness.
Overall, this is a gentle, thoughtful guide for anyone looking to build character in small, daily steps. Not every page struck me equally, and I didn’t agree with everything, but the book’s steady rhythm and practical emphasis make it a valuable companion. I can easily see myself revisiting certain weeks in the future.
A rich and accessible introduction to Mussar—and a lovely way to make each day just a little more intentional.
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June 10, 2021A wonderful annual Journaling exercise!
January 21, 2022
With a different focus each week, and a new reading daily you can read each day of the year and can also pick it up for a thoughtful read at any time.
August 24, 2022
Good idea, but repetitive and struggled to hold my attention
June 25, 2016
Helps you to keep up with your Mussar practice!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews