Biblical Hebrew IV: Advanced Reading Seminar—Kohelet’s Meaning of Life (morning)

Biblical Hebrew IV: Advanced Reading Seminar—Kohelet’s Meaning of Life (morning)

An Online Course with Dr. David Zev Moster 
Nine Thursdays: February 11, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 2026 
10:00–11:30 a.m. ET    

We also offer a Thursday afternoon class from 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET.

Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) has strong opinions about work, pleasure, time, and life and death. At the heart of the book is the word הֶבֶל (hevel), translated variously as “futile,” “worthless,” “beyond grasp,” and even “absurd.” What does Kohelet mean by it, and how does it shape his understanding of life? 

In nine live online sessions, we will read Kohelet 1–6, focusing on its most challenging verses and exploring multiple possibilities for translation and interpretation. Participants will be encouraged to develop and share their own translations and interpretations of this distinctive work in the Ketuvim (Writings). 

Prerequisite: Completion of Biblical Hebrew I, II, and III. If you have not taken these courses but believe you have the equivalent background, please schedule a conversation with the instructor prior to enrollment.   

Cost: $575

Earn a 10% DISCOUNT on courses by declaring your candidacy for the new Certificate in Biblical Hebrew. Complete the four-course sequence and optional capstone project. By the conclusion of the program, you will be able to read and understand a book of the Bible from start to finish in the original Hebrew.   

Learn about the Certificate in Biblical Hebrew

* If you do not already own these materials, a coupon will be provided for the purchase of Accordance Software at the discounted price of $50. The two Tanakh Cards are $15/each.

Dr. David Moster is the Director of Biblical Hebrew Instruction in the Center for Lifelong Learning at JTS and the director of the Institute of Biblical Culture, where he teaches Hebrew and creates YouTube videos for the general public. He is the author of Etrog: How a Chinese Fruit Became a Jewish Symbol (2018). He received his PhD from Bar-Ilan University, an MA from New York University and BA, MA, MS, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. 

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