For the source text click/tap here: Moed Katan 28
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It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir would say with regard to the verse:
ב טוֹב לָלֶכֶת אֶל-בֵּית-אֵבֶל, מִלֶּכֶת אֶל-בֵּית מִשְׁתֶּה--בַּאֲשֶׁר, הוּא סוֹף כָּל-הָאָדָם; וְהַחַי, יִתֵּן אֶל-לִבּוֹ.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
Eccl 7:2
“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart”
What should the living lay to his heart? Matters relating to death. And these matters are as follows: He that eulogizes will be eulogized by others. He that buries others will be buried by others. He that loads many words of praise and tribute into the eulogies that he delivers for others will be similarly treated by others. He that raises his voice in weeping over others will have others raise their voices over him.
We explore the ironic mixture of fatalism and resistance in Kohelet through the lens of modern poets including Yehudah Amichai.