After attending local schools including being valedictorian and president of his graduating class at San Jacinto Senior High School, he earned his BA from the University of Texas in Austin, where he was a member of Tau Delta Phi fraternity.

While there, Kessler taught very popular courses in the Religious Studies programs at UT and served on several committees at the request of the university president.

In 1976, he was called as rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Galveston, Texas, serving them for five years.

Today the society has grown to more 750 members and has sponsored and supported research for scholars and students of Texas Jewish history.

[8] Kessler was engaged in numerous public activities: he was appointed as the first Chairman of the Church-State Relations Advisory Board of the Texas Department of Human Resources.

Jewish religious and Masonic funeral services were held at Temple B'nai Israel in Galveston.