A Spring Course with Rabbi Chaim Cohen 

What makes a life genuinely good? Not successful, not productive: just good? What makes a society just? And do our choices actually add up to anything?

These are the oldest questions there are. And one tradition has been sitting on answers it always intended to share with the world.

Because here’s what most people have never been told: Judaism has never believed its deepest wisdom belongs only to Jews.

That’s what For All Humankind is about. It’s a four-week conversation on the ideas that matter most drawn from Judaism’s oldest and most universal values.

Think of this as hearing solid answers to life’s most essential ethical questions from an intellectual tradition that’s been thinking about them for over three thousand years. No background needed.

You’ll walk away with something that’s hard to find right now: the clarity to explain why your deepest values are worth fighting for, and why every small choice you make adds up to a better world.

Lesson 1 JUDAISM AND UNIVERSAL VALUES

While Judaism has often been perceived as a “closed” tradition, in truth it carries a universal message intended for all of humanity. This lesson shows that the Jewish people’s mission is not just to safeguard their own covenant but to act as a guiding force for the moral and spiritual betterment of the entire world. Judaism’s unique moral system derives from the belief in one G-d, a principle introduced by Abraham. The belief in one Creator brings coherence to the world, establishing the basis for moral order, human dignity, and justice.

Lesson 2 MAN-MADE OR G-D-GIVEN?

This lesson explores the foundational questions of morality and human value: Where do our moral values come from, and are they absolute or subjective? It challenges the assumptions of a human-based ethical system by examining its vulnerabilities, particularly the dangers of moral relativism. Students will see how the Torah provides an objective, absolute foundation for all societies’ morality that protects the sanctity of life and extends responsibility to all creation.

Lesson 3 EDUCATING FUTURE GENERATIONS

Judaism provides a model of education as being more than simply acquiring knowledge. Instead it is a pathway to cultivating character and moral intelligence. Students will understand how universal values like responsibility, integrity, and kindness can be transmitted through the family unit and societal structures, and how the Torah provides a blueprint for developing ethical leaders who can make a positive impact in the world.

Lesson 4 IT WILL GET BETTER

Ancient societies typically understood time as a repetitive cycle. In contrast, Judaism has given the world the understanding that history progresses toward a positive purpose. Through the Jewish lens of linear time, students will learn that life’s struggles are not meaningless: they are opportunities for growth and change. They will be inspired by the idea that every action has a purpose and contributes to the larger narrative of progress toward the messianic era. The lesson fosters a mindset of hope and active engagement, empowering students to see themselves as part of a world in transformation.

The cost of the course, including the class textbook, is $99. The cost for chai club members and residents of the Lansdowne Woods community is $40 (the cost of the textbook).

All 4 lessons will be on Mondays from 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm from May 4th, 2026 - June 1st, 2026. Please note, we will not have class on May 25th due to Memorial Day.

All 4 lessons will be taught on Zoom. Please check your email confirmation for the Zoom link.