The Torah Path to Lasting Character Change
Continuing the mission of Rav Yisroel Salanter, our Vaadim bring authentic Torah-based Mussar to men and women seeking genuine, permanent growth.
How a Mussar Vaad Works
In-Person Meetings
Zeriah - Planting
Binyan - Building
Cheshbon Hanefesh
Tefillah
What is the IOMV?
Founded in the early 2000s, the International Organization for Mussar Vaadim (IOMV) is a network of dozens of character-development groups spread across North America and Israel. The organization focuses on the study and practice of classical mussar, primarily following the Lithuanian tradition of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter and later masters like Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, and Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe. The core of the organization is the vaad – a small, facilitated group of individuals who meet regularly to study mussar texts and engage in structured self-reflection and character development (middos). The IOMV vaad leaders are talmidei chochomim who have participated in vaadim for many years and spent years accumulating shimush not only in the practice of mussar but in how to be guide talmidim in its study and practice.
Rabbi Leib Kelemen
Founder and Director of the IOMV
Rabbi Leib (Lawrence) Kelemen is the founder and current Rosh Kollel of the Center for Kehillah Development, a leadership development project devoted to the growth and wellbeing of Jewish communities worldwide. He has been honored as a visiting scholar at shuls, yeshivos, kolelim, universities and communal organizations around the world. During his many years at Neve Yerushalayim in Jerusalem, Rabbi Kelemen influenced thousands of students. He is also the author of many journal articles and books, among them: Permission to Believe, Permission to Receive, Planting and Building, To Kindle a Soul, and Questions and Answers with Leib Kelemen.
Our Leaders
Rabbi Ben Geiger
Rabbi Yisroel Gelber
R’ Daniel Goldman
R’ Meir Kaniel
Rabbi Jonny Ross
