It tells us: “Go, eat your bread joyfully, and drink your wine goodheartedly, as God has already accepted your actions” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). But what does that mean?
Kohelet Rabbah, a rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, dives deep into this verse, offering multiple interpretations that resonate even today. It's like a chorus of voices, each adding a layer of meaning.
One interpretation, attributed to Rabbi Huna son of Rabbi Aḥa, speaks to the simple act of children leaving school. Imagine the scene: kids, buzzing with energy, heading home for lunch. According to this teaching, a Divine Voice accompanies them, saying, "Go, eat your bread joyfully!" Why? Because their "breath" – their very words of Torah learned that day – has been accepted as a pleasing aroma before God. It's a powerful image: even the seemingly small act of learning is a sacred offering.
Similarly, when adults leave synagogues or study halls, the commentary says the same Divine Voice rings out: "Go, eat your bread joyfully!" Their prayers, too, have been received. It's a reminder that our spiritual efforts, whether grand or modest, are seen and valued.
But the interpretations don't stop there. Another perspective connects the verse to specific Torah portions: the ḥalla (offering of dough) and libations. And then, Rabbi Azarya, citing Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon, brings in the story of Abraham and the binding of Isaac.
Remember that harrowing tale? God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. Abraham obeys, leading Isaac up Mount Moriah. But something fascinating happens on the way. Abraham sees a cloud affixed to the mountain, recognizing it as the place God intended. Isaac sees it too. But Abraham's servants? Nothing.
"Stay here with the donkey," Abraham tells them, using a phrase, im haḥamor, that the Rabbis link to those who are "comparable to a donkey," meaning those who lack spiritual perception. Abraham continues, building an altar, binding Isaac, and raising the knife. We all know the angel intervenes at the last moment, preventing the sacrifice.
But here's the crucial part, according to Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: Abraham wonders if there was something wrong with Isaac, something that made him unfit as an offering. And then, a Divine Voice reassures him: "Go, eat your bread joyfully…as God has already accepted your actions." Your offering has been accepted!
The story doesn't end there. Rabbi Mona of Shaab and Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, in the name of Rabbi Levi, connect the verse to Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, the High Holy Days. It's likened to a king forgiving taxes owed by a province. First, the leaders are forgiven a third, then the middle class, and finally, when everyone emerges – men, women, and children – all debts are forgiven. God says, "What is past is past, from here onward is a new account." And once again, the Divine Voice proclaims: "Go, eat your bread joyfully" – your prayer has already been heard.
We even get a story about Abba Taḥana, a pious man, who, on the eve of Shabbat, chooses to help a man afflicted with boils instead of rushing home with his livelihood. He worries he's desecrated Shabbat. But the sun shines miraculously, and the Divine Voice assures him, "Go, eat your bread joyfully…as God has already accepted your actions.”
Finally, the commentary turns to Daniel, the "beloved man," whose prayers are answered so swiftly that the angel Gabriel arrives almost before he's finished. Rabbi Shmuel bar Onya, quoting Rabbi Aḥa, notes that Daniel is described as "beloved" three times! The angel says, "You are very beloved. You are beloved to your Creator, you are beloved to His entourage, and you are beloved to His Torah." And again, the Divine Voice: "Go, eat your bread joyfully" – your prayer has already been heard.
What connects these stories? It’s the idea that God sees our efforts, our intentions, even when we ourselves doubt their worth. Whether it's a child learning Torah, a community atoning for its sins, or a man performing an act of selfless kindness, God acknowledges and accepts our actions.
So, the next time you question whether what you're doing is enough, remember this verse from Ecclesiastes, and the rich interpretations in Kohelet Rabbah. Maybe, just maybe, a Divine Voice is whispering to you right now: "Go, eat your bread joyfully…as God has already accepted your actions."