Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Kohelet reminds us that we will never understand God and thus challenging Him is a waste of time.  Instead we should focus on our lives, keep our promises, and be smart about our actions.

Kohelet advises us that despite the seeming futility of our efforts, we should still not fold our hands and do nothing.  However we should choose something meaningful, with purpose and together with others.

There is a time and season for everything, we must enjoy and experience each moment, and live properly each moment of our lives.

We don't understand the ways of God, but it is better to be wise than to be foolish, and it is important to enjoy the momentary pleasures that we are privileged to experience.

Kohelet examines three possible paths; physical pleasure, wisdom, and purposelessness. He begins by observing that while he derived pleasure from seeking out the luxuries oif this world, they were only fleeting and temporary.

Wisdom itself is a source of pain and anxiety. Maybe it would be better to be ignorant?

Everything that was will be again, there is nothing new under the sun.

We introduce the Book of Ecclesiastes, and begin reading this masterpiece in which we encounter the seeming futility of the search for meaning in our lives.

The kingdom of Judah is destroyed, and the people are exiled. Cyrus of Persia issues a proclamation to allow the return of the exiles.

The reign of Josiah reaches its greatest height in the most wonderful Passover celebration in history.  Tragically Josiah meets his untimely death due to a severe military error.