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Why does Koheles declare everything 'hevel' (vanity), even the seven days of creation? Before creation, God was perfect but had no constituency to proclaim Him King or recipients for His kindness. Our cosmic mission is to serve as God's kehillah who coronates Him through Torah (תורה) and mitzvos - the only truly meaningful act in existence.
Rabbi Zweig begins his analysis of Koheles (Ecclesiastes) by addressing fundamental theological questions about why Koheles declares everything as 'hevel' (vanity/emptiness), including the seven mentions of hevel corresponding to the seven days of creation. His central thesis is that before creation, God was everything (Ein Od Milvado - there is nothing but Him), existing without time or space. In this perfect state, God had no opportunity to perform kindness (chesed (חסד)), as there were no recipients. The purpose of creation was not to benefit God - who was actually 'better off' before creation - but to create the possibility for divine kindness through giving human beings the ability to connect to Him. However, God cannot simply grant eternal existence without justification, as that would be imperfect. Instead, He created humans with free will who can earn their connection by proclaiming Him as King. This act of coronation (making God our King) is something God could not have before creation, as kingship requires a constituency. This is the meaning of 'Koheles' - we are God's kehillah (congregation/community) who gather to proclaim His sovereignty. Rabbi Zweig emphasizes that this understanding should be profoundly empowering rather than limiting. Everything in creation, including the highest spiritual experiences like Shabbos (שבת), is ultimately hevel compared to God's pre-creation state of absolute perfection. Only our role as God's constituency - those who make Him King through Torah (תורה) observance and mitzvah (מצוה) performance - has ultimate meaning. This perspective transforms our approach to criticism and child-rearing. Rather than focusing on what children do wrong, parents should emphasize their children's greatness and potential. The most effective criticism comes through compliments that help people understand their true greatness - when people truly grasp their elevated purpose, they naturally regulate their own behavior. Rabbi Zweig extends this to community involvement, arguing that families should identify unique ways to contribute to God's glory, whether through chesed projects, kiruv work, or community building. He cites examples like the CLE program that brings college students into Orthodox homes, fundamentally changing their perception of religious Judaism. The number eight represents human additions to creation - things like brit milah (circumcision) and Torah study that we contribute to God's glory. These are our unique contributions that God 'allows' us to add to His perfection. Rabbi Zweig concludes by warning against emptiness (batala) which leads to spiritual problems. When people, especially young people, lack purpose and vision of their cosmic significance, they become susceptible to negative influences. The antidote is giving every family member a clear vision of their ability to accomplish something meaningful for the Almighty Himself.
Koheles 1:1
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