In 1996, Rabbi Steinsaltz’s commentary on Pirkei Avot was published in Chinese, by the Chinese National Academy of Social Sciences. Rabbi Steinsaltz also led seminars at the Universities of Shanghai and Beijing on topics relating to similarity and dissimilarity between the Jewish and Chinese cultures.

The publication was well received and popular amongst Chinese academics. Plans are currently in place to publish a second revised edition, connected to Rabbi Steinsaltz’s visit to Beijing at the end of this year.

Rabbi Steinsaltz also produced a comparative study on the relationship between knowledge and deeds in the Jewish and Chinese philosophies with specific mention to the Pirkei Avot. Steinsaltz chose to have this particular book translated into Chinese because it is, “if I may say so, the most ‘Chinese’ book of our culture,” he quoted.