Below is a collection of Megillat Kohelet resources, created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.

This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for.

 

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Megillat Kohelet Overview

Megillat Kohelet is attributed to King Solomon, with “Kohelet” being a nickname for Solomon, according to Chazal, as is found in Ketuvim. 

It is a complicated text within which certain verses at times seem to contradict each other. Kohelet is a philosophical text in which different perspectives are offered surrounding a specific topic, and with each perspective being analyzed in a very consistent manner. At the center of the text is a man who offers his perspective, alongside the perspective of “God,” the wise man (the Chacham), and the man who works (the “Amal”). It details different experiences of these different perspectives and the messages that have emerged from the experiences that are described. The text concludes with a message that fearing God and performing his commandments are the key to life.

Educational Points for Connection
  • Kohelet is read on the holiday of Sukkot. In advance of the holiday, the text can be introduced to the students on a broad level, with an explanation of how it connects to the holiday.
  • Many philosophical phrases or verses emerge from the text, and some key phrases (see below) can be used as starting points for conversations surrounding specific topics.
Key Themes of Megillat Kohelet
  • The value of hard work
  • Is anything new in the world?
  • Wisdom – what is its value?
  • The place of fear of God in a person’s life
  • The relationship between God and Man, Man’s role, and God’s role
  • Is everything nothing?
  • The concept of hevel (futility)
  • How should one spend one’s time?
Key Pesukim in Megillat Kohelet
  • Kohelet 1:2 – 

הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים אָמַר קֹהֶלֶת הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים הַכֹּל הָבֶל – Utter futility!—said Kohelet—Utter futility! All is futile!

  • Kohelet 1:9 – 

אין חדש תחת השמש – There is nothing new beneath the sun

  • Kohelet 3:1 – 

לַכֹּל זְמָן וְעֵת לְכׇל חֵפֶץ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם

עֵת לָלֶדֶת וְעֵת לָמוּת עֵת לָטַעַת וְעֵת לַעֲקוֹר נָטוּעַ

עֵ֤ת לַהֲרוֹג וְעֵת לִרְפּוֹא עֵת לִפְרוֹץ וְעֵת לִבְנוֹת

עֵת לִבְכּוֹת וְעֵת לִשְׂחוֹק עֵת סְפוֹד וְעֵת רְקוֹד

עֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ אֲבָנִים וְעֵת כְּנוֹס אֲבָנִים עֵת לַחֲבוֹק וְעֵת לִרְחֹק מֵחַבֵּק

עֵת לְבַקֵּשׁ וְעֵת לְאַבֵּד עֵת לִשְׁמוֹר וְעֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ

עֵת לִקְרוֹעַ וְעֵת לִתְפּוֹר עֵת לַחֲשׁוֹת וְעֵת לְדַבֵּר

עֵת לֶֽאֱהֹב וְעֵת לִשׂנֹא עֵת מִלְחָמָה וְעֵת שָׁלוֹם

A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven:

A time for being born and a time for dying,

A time for planting and a time for uprooting the planted;

A time for slaying and a time for healing,-c

A time for tearing down and a time for building up

A time for weeping and a time for laughing,

A time for wailing and a time for dancing;

A time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones,

A time for embracing and a time for shunning embraces;

A time for seeking and a time for losing,

A time for keeping and a time for discarding;

A time for ripping and a time for sewing,

A time for silence and a time for speaking;

A time for loving and a time for hating;

A time for war and a time for peace.

  • Kohelet 12:13 – 

סוף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע אֶת הָאֱלֹקים יְרָא וְאֶת מִצְוֺתָיו שְׁמוֹר כִּי זֶה כׇּל הָאָדָם – The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments – this is the sum of a man[‘s life].

Videos

Sukkot: Ecclesiastes Reimagined in Animation – This video from Bimbam provides an overview of the Book of Ecclesiastes (Megillat Kohelet), which is read on Sukkot.