The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet in Hebrew, grapples with these questions. One verse in particular catches our attention: "Behold what I have seen to be good: That it is fine to eat, and to drink, and to see benefit in all one’s toil that he toils under the sun, the number of days of his life that God has granted him, as it is his portion" (Ecclesiastes 5:17).
Sounds simple enough. Enjoy the good things, appreciate your work, and savor the life you've been given. But is that all there is to it?
The Rabbis of the Midrash, those ancient interpreters of scripture, saw something deeper. In Kohelet Rabbah, Rabbi Tanhuma offers a fascinating insight: Every time the scroll mentions "eating and drinking," it's actually a veiled reference to Torah and good deeds. Food for thought, wouldn’t you say?
Rabbi Yona takes this idea further. He points to another verse, Ecclesiastes 8:15, which says, "[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]." But how does eating and drinking accompany someone in their toil?
The parallel passage in Kohelet Rabbah 2:24 expands on this: "That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo] – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave.” Wait a minute... Eating and drinking follow us to the grave? Literally?
The Midrash poses the obvious question: Is there really eating and drinking that accompanies a person to the grave? What actually goes with us when we depart this world? The answer, of course, is Torah and good deeds. Those are the things that truly endure.
So, what does it all mean? It's not that enjoying the pleasures of life is wrong. But the real "eating and drinking," the sustenance that nourishes our souls and accompanies us on our journey, is the spiritual nourishment we gain from studying Torah and performing acts of kindness. These are the investments that pay dividends not just in this world, but in the world to come. They are our lasting legacy. : What are you "eating and drinking" today? What are you investing in that will truly last? Are you nourishing your body, yes, but also your soul? Because, according to the Rabbis, that's the feast that truly matters.