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| The book of Ecclesiastes is a part of Jewish wisdom literature. The verses of this book, titled Kohelet in Hebrew, have inspired souls and music through the generations. The Shabbat of Sukkot is the traditional time to focus upon this text. Kohelet is the book of the midlife crisis and spiritual eldering. Its verses are honest, troubling, asking ultimate questions. The study of it creates an atmosphere of deep inquiry into the nature, transience and meaning of life. Doing this in a sukkah is the perfect setting. A number of Jewish texts seem written with the intent that they be studied as a meditation. One way to do this is by reciting the words passionately, repetitively, let them run through your soul stream. Then sit quietly, allowing multiple awarenesses to rise and be noticed, dissipate and then other "aha’s" will emerge, on and on within mutually, intuitively evolving periods of silence, You might try this with Kohelet, in your sukkah, on a Shabbat during Sukkot.. Alternatively, you might honor the sage within every elder in your family by distributing verses from Kohelet in advance for them to comment upon during a special Shabbat Sukkot afternoon of honoring the elders in your family or community. Here is a verses to get you started, selected from the exceptional interpretations of Rabbi Rami Shapiro, in The Way of Solomon: Finding Joy and Contentment in the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes 1:14: "I have explored all that is done in this world of seemingly separate beings and selves, and behold-there is no profit in it. There is nothing but emptiness, impermanence, and the pursuit of control that arises when you do not see the truth." |
