Dr. Kalmanofsky writes about the interplay between the Written and Oral Torahs, which established a basis for ongoing fresh interpretation. We honor our ancestors in this way. While the Written Torah is an anchor, dancing with the Oral Torah provides joy and art.
Rabbi Margles cites Talmud Sukkah 12a, which instructs us to take the husks, bare vines, and dry stalks—leftovers—for the roof of the Sukkah. This seems contradictory to the mitzvah. For instance, we are instructed to choose the most beautiful etrog available, and decorate the Sukkah. She cites Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner of Radzyn who taught about the spiritual significance of the holy refuse.
Rabbi Sacks observes that Kohelet is “the man who had it all”, and yet, when looking back upon his life, he could only say that it was meaningless. His failure to find meaning is directly related to his obsession with “I” and “me”; the more he pursues his desires, the emptier his life becomes. The culture of narcissism leads to loneliness and despair, as Kohelet discovered.