Da’at Tevunot, a profound work of Jewish thought, asks us to consider this very question. It points out the sheer, astonishing energy humans pour into the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, the "vanities of vanities," as Ecclesiastes would say (Ecclesiastes 1:2). We toil for food and drink, for possessions, for things that ultimately crumble to dust.
Isn't it a bit… insane?
The text argues that we weren't created for this endless cycle of consumption. We were given intellect, chochma, to grasp the glory of our Creator. That, according to Da’at Tevunot, should be our primary occupation. Not accumulating wealth, not mastering the art of the deal, but cultivating our connection to the Divine. Sounds lofty, right? But is it really so out of reach?
The text goes on to explain that the world has been in decline. It suggests that earlier generations were closer to wisdom, more attuned to the intellect. Later generations, like ours, have become increasingly distant from that intellectual light, submerged in physical matters, in business, in the mundane. We become so focused on the "here and now" that we forget the "hereafter."
But why? What happened?
Da’at Tevunot offers a powerful explanation rooted in the nature of creation itself. The body, it says, was created through hester panim, a “hiding of His countenance.” Think of it like God stepping back, allowing for free will and the illusion of separation. This, the text suggests, makes the body's existence inherently darker, more murky. The soul, on the other hand, was created through orat panim, the "illumination of His countenance," a direct view towards the good. This is why the soul yearns for connection, for eternity, for purity.
The key, it seems, lies in balance. If we allow the body to dominate, if we prioritize the physical over the spiritual, then, the text warns, God will interact with us through that same “hiding of His countenance.” We become distant from the light of life, from wisdom and knowledge, and submerged in the "filthy material rubbish" of this world.
This isn't some harsh judgment, but a reflection of our own choices. We have the power to choose what we prioritize. We can choose to chase after fleeting pleasures, or we can choose to cultivate our souls, to seek out the divine spark within us.
So, what will it be? What will you choose to chase? The endless cycle of vanities, or the eternal light of wisdom? Da’at Tevunot invites us to pause, to reflect, and to choose wisely. After all, what could be more important?