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40

The Bitter
And The Sweet

October 5 • 2017

jn

any congregations observe
the tradition of reading
the Book of Ecclesiastes
(Kohelet) during Sukkot. It is an
interesting pairing of this holiday
with this particular book.
Our tradition describes Sukkot as
Z’man Simchateinu, the time of our
rejoicing. It is a time when we wel-
come guests and connect with
our surrounds. A time for us
to be inspired by the nomadic
origins of our people.
fret over how long we have
Compare this with the
remaining. Ecclesiastes
tone of Ecclesiastes. It
adjacent to the festival
famously proclaims, “Utter
provides a framework for
futility! All is futile!” or, as
this consideration.
the King James version of
Another answer explains
the Bible gave the transla-
that the dark tone of
tion, “Vanity of vanities! All
Ecclessiastes provides a
is vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Rabbi Brent
contrast that heightens
Far from joyful, Kohelet’s
Gutmann
the significance of our
view of the world is pessi-
rejoicing. Like the break-
mistic and corrupt. A world
ing of glass at the end of
where the cunning prosper
a wedding, the study of
and the meek go oppressed.
Ecclesiastes reminds us of the reality
A world where there is no hope for
that in the presence of any celebra-
change in the future, that there will
never be anything new “beneath the tion there is also sorrow. This aware-
ness of sorrow enables better appre-
sun.”
It is hardly what one would expect ciation of what is good in one’s life.
Life contains both its share of
as a reading to emphasize the theme
uncertainty and challenge, as well
of rejoicing, so why then was it cho-
as joy. Whatever comes next, may
sen for this festival? What can we
we find our joys heightened through
learn from this book and its ironic
our observance of this holiday and
inclusion by many as part of our
our appreciation of that joy height-
Sukkot liturgy?
ened as well against the backdrop of
One answer explains that Sukkot
Sukkot. Whatever remains to unfold
as a holiday is meant to remind us
in our world beneath the sun, let it
that our lives are finite. We have the
be for the good.
privilege of living for a set amount
May we this Sukkot, Z’man
of time and then so quickly we are
Simchteinu, be reminded of all we
gone. The sukkah we invest money,
have to be joyful for in our lives, but
time and energy into erecting is
let us also remember that bitterness
used for but a week and then it is
is a part of life. In doing so, may our
gone.
lives this new year of 5778 be sweet-
An old joke asks, “Why do Jews
ened as we learn to appreciate those
say Shalom, peace, when greeting
things we are fortunate enough to
or leaving someone?” The answer:
possess. •
“We don’t know if we’re coming
or going.” We do not know what
Brent Gutmann is rabbi at Temple Kol Ami in
might be around the next turn. This
West Bloomfield.
uncertainty presents a choice. We
can rejoice in the time we have or

Parshat Chol
HaMoed Sukkot:
Exodus: 33:
12-34:26; Ezekiel
38:18-39:16.

BRETT MOUNTAIN

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