Beginning Tuesday, June 6, Kesher Zion is launching seven weeks of adult education. We will be studying Ethics of the Fathers /Pirkei Avot. (Since there are only six chapters, we will only meet in six of those seven weeks.) Although it is actually part of Talmud (specifically the Mishna) Avot is not legalistic or halachic. Also known as Chapters of the Fathers or Sayings of the Fathers, is concerned with ethics and morals. Some of the best-known maxims from the Talmud come from Avot, such as: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?" (1:14). It is filled with wisdom: "Do not judge your fellow until you have stood in his place." (2:4), and good guidance: “Provide yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend, and judge all people charitably.” (1:6).

I am dedicating the first week to my father, Milton Prosnitz, Moshe ben Yaakov (ז״ל). He died suddenly on Memorial Day weekend and never received the coin I was holding to give him on Father’s Day. It read, “A Father like you is hard to find-one who’s Honest, Strong, Wise, and Kind.” I still carry that coin in my pocket every day.