Q:
Why do we read Koheles on Sukkos?
A:
The answer is — at least one answer — is that because Sukkos is the Chag Ha’asif, the time when we gather in the crops, it’s a time of affluence. We just took in our crops and we’re successful and happy, so now, hishamru lachem — watch out! V’achalta v’savata … hishamru lachem! When you eat and you’re full, you have to be careful!
And therefore, Koheles is the hishamru lachem. It teaches you that hakol hevel, it’s all nothing. The only thing that matters is sof davar hakol nishma, which means that if you utilize your wealth and happiness, your affluence, for service of Hashem, then yes, it has a place. But otherwise, all the happiness of life is meaningless. It has no purpose at all! Because Hakadosh Baruch Hu bestows happiness only for that purpose. U’lesimchah mah zu oseh. Simchah must accomplish something. It has to engender gratitude and love of Hashem. If happiness doesn’t cause you to love Hashem more, then simchah mah zu oseh — what good is it?
And therefore, when people are celebrating the harvest, they’re so full of joy; the granaries are full, they’re bursting with grain. Everybody is happy. Baruch Hashem, it was a very good year! V’achalta v’savata! Oh, watch out now! Hishamru lachem — make sure you don’t misuse that happiness.
That’s why you need Koheles. Koheles is a very valuable study. Of course, it’s not easy, but it teaches you the principle that you have to analyze everything and discover their purpose. And everything is worthless unless you understand the sof davar. Sof davar hakol nishma; if you understand the sof davar, the purpose, then everything gains meaning. We look back, and the things that we said were hevel now are no longer hevel. If you understand that the sof davar is “Es Elokim y’ra v’es mitzvosav sh’mor, ki zeh kol ha’adam — Fear Hashem and guard His mitzvos because that is the entirety of man,” and you’re utilizing your happiness for that purpose, then it’s not hevel anymore.
The what the medrash says. The medrash asks: How could Koheles say hakol hevel, that everything is nothing, when Hashem says it’s all tov me’od? Vayar Elokim es kol asher asah v’hinei tov me’od — Hashem saw everything that He made, and He said it’s very good. Borei meshabcha umi meganam — If the Creator is praising them, how can anybody belittle them? Hashem says it’s tov me’od and Koheles says hakol hevel?!
The answer is: It depends what you’re looking for. If you’re looking just to enjoy the things of this world by themselves, then hakol hevel. You eat up the food. It turns into manure, that’s all. But if you’re eating the food for the purpose of kedushah, to be able to thank Hashem for it and to see His chessed and His wonders, the nifla’os haBorei, then it’s tov me’od. Nobody can make food. Only Hakadosh Baruch Hu has the maftei’ach of food. To this day, in spite all our scientific progress, nobody can make food. Only Hashem gives food. Food is a miracle. It’s miracles of miracles.
If that’s how you eat, then it’s tov me’od. It’s not hevel anymore. When you utilize the food for the service of Hashem, then vayar Elokim es kol asher asah v’hineih tov. Not only tov; it’s tov me’od! Hashem is the Gomel chassadim tovim; Hashem gives not only chessed, but chassadim tovim — the best chassadim! That’s because Hashem’s chassadim cause you — if you utilize them properly — to become greater and greater in coming closer to Him.
(October 8, 1998)
