Mortality in Koheles

Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim

Howard: What was Rabbi Chait’s explanation of why Koheles concludes with the body’s disintegration?

Rabbi: Rabbi Chait explained that any philosophy that does not include one’s mortality is a false philosophy. But we must ask why he said this.

If one feels he will not die (while all others do), this reveals an overall egoistic fantasy life and denial of realty which certainly corrupts the person in all areas. He may then refuse medication, take unnecessary risks, and fail to concede to the advice of others…all due to his self-overestimation. Those are a physical drawbacks.

But philosophically too he is corrupt because as he denies death, he denies God’s ultimate reward and punishments. Thereby he will not tame his lusts, greed, anger and other poor qualities that ruin his soul. He won’t fear sin. He thereby denies Torah fundamentals, he denies God’s word, and sacrifices his soul. He traded pleasure for real happiness of the soul here and after, gained only through studying God’s wisdom, which ensures the afterlife. Denying God’s word and His fundamental principles, he denies what God is. He denies God. He wasted his life.

To ensure mankind benefits from this life and the next, King Solomon reminds one that life is temporal and  not our ultimate destination. This redirects us to explore God’s plan of the afterlife so we might learn what our true existence is, and what God deems best for us. Of course we must first focus on the here and now as this is where we select the choices which most benefit ourselves here, and later. Only in conclusion does King Solomon treat of mortality.