Cheshbon HaNefesh
is in many ways characteristic product of mussar, an
ethical movement which originated among Lithuanian Jews and spread from
there. Although used by all or any Jews
today, originally mussar, with its emphasis on rational analysis of emotion to
build solid character traits, was distinctly Litvak --- expressing the special concerns of Lithuanian Jewish scholars.
What makes Cheshbon HaNefesh so
interesting is that that author provides a concrete system for self-improvement based on notebook notations
of character traits and charts. It is very practical, and has a very modern feel; mussar,
in many ways, anticipated certain self-help trends.
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