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Koheles: Man’s Quest for Happiness
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About Koheles: Man’s Quest For Happiness
“Koheles: Man’s Quest for Happiness” are student’s notes from Rabbi Israel Chait’s lectures on King Solomon’s book covering metaphysics, philosophy, psychology, morality and Torah. In the early 1970s, Rabbi Chait presented a thorough and insightful analysis of Koheles’ first chapter, comprising Part I of this book. In 1986 and 1987 Rabbi Chait gave a series of lectures covering many of Koheles’ remaining chapters, comprising Parts II, III and IV. Not all verses were addressed, therefore there are gaps in the sequence of verses. Rabbi Chait deciphers King Solomon’s expressions, lessons, metaphors and surface contradictions. He enlightens us to the myriad of conscious fantasies, the unconscious, frustrations, conflicts, values, ambitions and attitudes confronting man in his quest for a fulfilling life. Using himself as the subject, King Solomon experimented with all possible lifestyles, from indulging in riches and drink, to lives of frivolity and sophistication. At every turn, the king records his reactions and exposes the fallacies behind blind ambitions and ideals. With his keen wisdom, King Solomon unveiled the many recesses of man’s psychological dynamics, hidden from most people. What are man’s assumptions regarding happiness? What are man’s psychological faculties, dynamics and their pitfalls? How does man fool himself into chasing fantasies and unattainable goals? Why do he think certain objectives and actions will provide happiness, and why must they fail? And what role does the fantasy of immortality play in human ambition? Koheles is a thorough and honest analysis of these matters, and more.To gain the most from Koheles, we must appreciate that God granted unparalleled wisdom to King Solomon at age 12 when his father King David died and King Solomon ascended the throne. God appeared to him in a prophetic dream saying, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon responded, “Give to your servant a hearing heart to judge your people between good and evil...” God granted this to him, saying, “…as you have requested this matter, and you did not ask for long days, and you did not request riches, and you did not ask for the death of your enemies, and you requested understanding to hear judgement…behold, I do as your words; behold I give to you a heart that is wise and understanding, that like you, there was no one before, and after you, there will not arise anyone like you.” Leaders from all nations came to hear King Solomon’s wisdom and were astonished at his insights. The reader will be amazed at King Solomon’s genius. As a prophet gifted with Divine knowledge earning the Rabbis’ praise as the wisest man ever next to Moses, we are offered the singular opportunity of joining King Solomon in witnessing God’s wisdom. The king desired to share his wisdom with all others, to help us all understand which life path and choices will secure true happiness, and avoid grief and misfortune. But as he wrote in metaphor and in apparent contradictions, his words require the greatest attention and sensitivity.In Part 1, the 1970s Lectures, Rabbi Chait’s analysis of Koheles’ first chapter reveals King Solomon’s depth of human understanding. This includes explanations of otherwise cryptic metaphors with unique and marvelous insights into the primary components and workings of man’s psyche. Perhaps it is no coincidence that in both Genesis’ and Koheles’ opening chapters, we find discussions of immortality, sin, fantasy, the instincts, desire, rivers, blame, remorse, and other psychological parallels as prerequisite study for understanding man and how to achieve happiness.Rabbi Chait’s lectures on Koheles offer us a unique and valuable opportunity to learn how to guide our lives not only as followers of Torah, but as human beings.
