Ancient Hebrew Reading Group: Wisdom for Dark Times — the Book of Ecclesiastes II

Everything is terrible; why live, why think, anyway? The Book of Ecclesiastes or Qohelet (“the Preacher”) faces these questions with philosophical sophistication, expressed in concise poem-puzzles that have been unpacked through the ages. In this second part of an ongoing reading group, we will continue to work our way through the book in the original Hebrew, guided by a wide sample of translations and commentaries, from antiquity to existentialism. We will also consider its context in the biblical and broader Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom tradition—distinguished by an attention to “secular” questions, a concern for the conditions of possibility of human knowledge, and a critical spirit; even as it held a basically conservative view of the social, divine, and natural order. If we understand the logic whereby the Preacher confronts the tragedy arising from life’s inherent contradictions, perhaps we will be more able to confront it ourselves.

Course Schedule

Wednesday, 6:00-8:00pm ET
June 24 — July 29, 2026
6 weeks

$335.00

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