Could “All” Be in Vain? A Liturgical Response to Ecclesiastes
Nov 14, 2012 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Sukkot
The opening words of the book of Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) have troubled those who read the Bible for a very long time, and remain a challenge—ancient, but still provocative. “Havel havalim, . . . hakol havel” (In vain, in vain, . . . it is all futility) (Eccles. 1, 2). Last week we began to look at the passage “mah anu meh chayyeinu” found in the preliminary service (daily and Shabbat), and I noted the extraordinary feature of this “prayer”—the questions included within the text (Who are we? What is our life? etc.). If we think of prayer as addressed to God, it is remarkable to find within this prayer that we ourselves are questioned. The final words of the paragraph (in the Ashkenazic version) bring us face to face with the troubling opening of Ecclesiastes: “ki hakol havel.”(“because everything is futile” or “because everything is in vain”).
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Grief in a Time of Joy
Oct 2, 2015 By Alex Braver | Commentary | Sukkot
My mother was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the day before Erev Rosh Hashanah last year. Through the Days of Awe we discussed her genetic profile, her symptoms, bone marrow transplants, and chemotherapy. We approached Hanukkah unsure of what was working and what wasn’t. She died on Purim.
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Sukkot Day 1 & 2
Jan 1, 1980
1 Lo, a day of the Lord is coming when your spoil shall be divided in your very midst!
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The Fruits of Close Reading
Sep 16, 2013 By Robert Harris | Commentary | Sukkot
“In order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Lev. 23:43).
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Shabbat Hol Hamoed Sukkot
Jan 1, 1980
12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Lead this people forward,’ but You have not made known to me whom You will send with me. Further, You have said, ‘I have singled you out by name, and you have, indeed, gained My favor.’
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Sukkot Day 2
Jan 1, 1980
2 All the men of Israel gathered before King Solomon at the Feast, in the month of Ethanim — that is, the seventh month.
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Sukkot Day 1
Jan 1, 1980
1 Lo, a day of the Lord is coming when your spoil shall be divided in your very midst!
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