I thank Jacob for hi
excellent questions on Koheleth which I am sure will
spark much
discussion.
Allow me to just make two simple points:
*HVL (usually translation as "vanity"..but what is vanity) is
best
translated as "transient"/ not lasting/of short duration. HVL refers
to
"steam from a pot" the paradigm of something noticable but
nevertheless
extremely transient (SOURCE: Ramban, in the SHAAR HAGMUL...the
BOOK of
RETRIBUTION...containing his explanations of Divine Providence).
* I would translate the difficult verse in Chapter 3 as follows:
"Who really appreciates (not "knows") that the life force (or life type)
of
then animal is physical while that of man is spiritual"
Russell Jay Hendel; Ph.d;ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu