As we prepare for the New Year, we turn to ancient wisdom for guidance. Pirkei Avot, the collection of Rabbinic wisdom sayings from the 3rd century CE, offers timeless guidance. In this introductory class, we discuss the origins and provenance of the collection. Then we delve deeply into and also range widely out from the very first aphorism: "The world depends on three things: Torah, prayer, and deeds of lovingkindness."