<P> In Judaism, Ecclesiastes is read either on Shemini Atzeret (by Yemenites, Italians, some Sepharadim, and the mediaeval French Jewish rite) or on the Shabbat of the Intermediate Days of Sukkot (by Ashkenazim). If there is no Intermediate Sabbath of Sukkot, even the Ashkenazim read it on Shemini Atzeret (or, for Ashkenazim in the Land of Israel, on the first Shabbat of Sukkot). It is read on Sukkot as a reminder to not get too caught up in the festivities of the holiday, as well as to carry over the happiness of Sukkot to the rest of the year by telling the listeners that, without God, life is meaningless . When the listeners take this to heart, then true happiness can be achieved throughout the year . </P> <P> The final poem of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes 12: 1--8) has been interpreted in the Targum, Talmud and Midrash, and by the rabbis Rashi, Rashbam and ibn Ezra, as an allegory of old age . </P> <P> Ecclesiastes has been cited in the writings of past and current Catholic Church leaders . For example, doctors of the Church have cited Ecclesiastes . St. Augustine of Hippo cited Ecclesiastes in Book XX of City of God . Saint Jerome wrote a commentary on Ecclesiastes . St. Thomas Aquinas cited Ecclesiastes ("The number of fools is infinite .") in his Summa Theologica . </P> <P> The book continues to be cited by recent popes, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis . Pope John Paul II, in his general audience of October 20, 2004, called the author of Ecclesiastes "an ancient biblical sage" whose description of death "makes frantic clinging to earthly things completely pointless ." Pope Francis cited Ecclesiastes on his address on September 9, 2014 . Speaking of vain people, he said, "How many Christians live for appearances? Their life seems like a soap bubble ." </P>

Who wrote the book of ecclesiastes in the old testament