Text-based study enhances Torah study skills
Developed specifically for online, in-depth learning
Taught by scholars with a personal interest in the subject
Engaging topics made relevant to real life issues
About the Course
What makes a teaching last for two thousand years? When it answers questions we never stop asking, like: How do you stay connected to people who see things differently? What does it mean to live for something bigger than yourself? How do you keep going when life doesn't make sense?
Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) is the Jewish tradition’s collected wisdom from the ancient sages. At first glance, it reads like a series of simple sayings. But go deeper, and you’ll find profound insights into how to live life with purpose.
In this course, we'll explore four teachings and discover a Jewish perspective on life that’s as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago.
This four-week series begins Tuesday, April 28 (11 Iyar).
April 28, 2026
Tired of every disagreement feeling like a war? Hillel and Shammai disagreed about almost everything, yet Hillel is the one who teaches us to love peace and pursue peace. This class explores how Hillel’s humility allowed him to see divine truth even in the opinions that opposed his own. We learn what real peace looks like, why arguments can be sacred, and how to hold strong convictions without pushing others away.
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May 5, 2026
Ever feel like you don’t know enough Torah to teach anyone? Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai saw it differently: If you know even one line more than someone else, you already have something the world needs. Through his dramatic escape from Jerusalem and his vision of Jewish survival, this class reframes Torah learning as a responsibility, not a personal achievement. Teaching even a little becomes an act of courage, continuity, and spiritual rescue.
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May 12, 2026
There are Jews we love, Jews we avoid, and Jews we quietly write off. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s teaching about three who eat at one table becomes personal when we look at his own family story: A tzaddik, a controversial son, and a grandson pulled out of real darkness. This class is about a Torah that brings all three to the same table and teaches us how to make space for every kind of Jew.
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May 19, 2026
What do you do when life stops making sense? Rabbi Yaakov’s grandfather, Elisha ben Avuyah, abandoned Judaism over a question he couldn’t resolve. Rabbi Yaakov faced the same pain and found a way to stay rooted. In this class, we explore his teaching that this world is a hallway before the palace and how that perspective helps us live with steadiness, hope, and faith when the answers don’t come.
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Level: Intermediate -
Length/Effort:45 Minutes / week
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Category: Ethics of Our Fathers
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Institution: Chabad.org / Chabad Beverly Hills
Meet the Presenter
Raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rabbi Moshe Kesselman pursued Torah studies in yeshivos across Israel, Montreal, Australia, and New York.
For over 25 years, Rabbi Kesselman has served the Los Angeles Jewish community and has led Congregation Shaarei Tefilah for the past 15 years.
He has personally guided more than 1,200 grooms in pre-marital classes and responds to hundreds of halachic questions a week from people around the world.
Known for his warmth, clarity, and practical teaching style, Rabbi Kesselman is passionate about helping students integrate Torah and Chassidus into everyday life.