Emmanuel Levinas
Stone is a scholar of Emmanuel Levinas and of the Musar movement. His book "A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar" draws on the thinking of Emmanuel Levinas in developing a contemporary vision of Musar. Unlike many other non-Orthodox Musar teachers, he believes that Musar practice must involve a commitment to the observance of Jewish law. Stone has also proposed that a dedication to Musar should be central to the approach of Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Ira Stone serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Center for Contemporary Mussar.