Of all the books in Ketuvim, the Writings section of Tanach, Ecclesiastes is possibly the hardest to read. Full of despair of the purpose of life, Solomon, its author, describes all the ways in which he attempted to make his life meaningful, by building his castle and tending his lands, but in the final account he famously states “All is vanity”.

A closer look at the book reveals the deep lessons that Solomon provides. He says it is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting. Faced with the proposition of going to a wedding or a funeral, the wedding is definitely preferable. 

We experience joy and happiness.  We celebrate with friends, we eat (and possibly drink) more than is appropriate and generally have a good time. The funeral does not share those elements. It is a sombre and sad time.

Solomon did not prefer a funeral because he had a depressed disposition, but rather because, as he states at the end of the verse, “And the living will take heed”. The living take heed of the vulnerability of life at such a moment.  

When we are young, we believe we will live forever, and when we get older, we avoid thinking about such things, because they frighten and scare us. Who wants to be faced with their own mortality?  

But it is not only the thought of death on which we should be reflecting; rather, it is on how we live our lives.  

The living need to “take heed” to ensure their lives are meaningful, that they have transcended their mortal coil by connecting to the spiritual.  

It is for this reason that the end of Ecclesiastes ends with the words “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of man”. God’s commandments were given to us not as an onerous task, but as a tool for soul development. One such deep moment of contemplation, which leads to personal change, is indeed the purpose for us all.