Merest Breath: Qohelet Translation and Commentaries

by Aubrey L. Glazer, Martin S. Cohen

A provocative and contemporary translation with two new commentaries on Qohelet (Ecclesiastes). This eclectic commentary on one of the strangest books of the Hebrew Bible is an ancient wisdom text that dares to address theological skepticism of the present. Understanding Qohelet as resisting biblical theological platitudes about sin, prayer, and forgiveness, this is a magisterial collection of thinkers ancient and modern--from Heraclitus to Gersonides to Hume and Leonard Cohen--that dares to think differently. Cohen's new translation and introductory commentary (Kol Ha-Tor) is in conversation with Glazer's philosophical interpretations (Ruah Ha-Orev) --ranging from Hebraic stoicism and skepticism to an exploration of the comprehensive mystical layers of interpretation in Zoharic commentary --allow Qohelet to emerge anew as a theological empiricist. Rediscover Qohelet as the remarkable Hebrew ironist who points seekers of truth to t life's "dialectical dance between melancholia and joy."

406 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2023

Reviews

[Gary Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important new contemporary and context-connected English translation from the Hebrew of the book of Ecclesiastes, aka 'Qohelet', along with an extensive, provocative, deeply informed and insightful commentary from Aubrey Glazer along with introductions to each chapter of the text by Martin Cohen who generated the translation. While I have had a long-standing deep connection to the text of this book from the Hebrew Bible, and have collected several different books of commentary on Qohelet that have previously appeared, this combination of a new contemporary English translation together with a commentary that connects this ancient wisdom text to current existential questions and philosophical works is, in my opinion, unparalleled in terms of its depth and relevance to the modern human predicament. Each chapter of the original text of Qohelet is given separately as a group of three items: an introduction to the chapter and particulars of the new translation by the translator (Martin S. Cohen) followed by the English translation which is provided in a sentence-by-sentence format in which the original Hebrew appears above the English translation, and then the new and contemporary commentary generated by Aubrey Glazer. All is preceded by a Preface and then the introduction to the 'Ruah-HaOrev' (Spirit of the Raven) commentary by Glazer and a note about the Kol Ha-Tor (Voice of the TurtleDove) translation by Martin Cohen. The twelve sections associated with each chapter are then followed by an Afterword. It is difficult to convey the high level of erudition that this text applies to the original Hebrew and the new contemporary English translation. The commentaries are supported by extensive Endnotes. There is much to be learned and much insight to be gained from an intensive study of this contemporary new translation and magnificent commentary.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book presents Qohelet as a theological empiricist who challenges traditional biblical platitudes, prompting readers to consider the nuanced interplay between doubt and faith. Through their commentaries, Glazer and Cohen invite a re-examination of Qohelet’s wisdom, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary existential concerns. 

In summary, Merest Breath underscores the importance of embracing life’s uncertainties and the dialectical dance between melancholia and joy, offering a profound reflection on the human condition. Our world seems “ meaningless, meaningless, meaningless”. So what can we do with that?