But it’s actually a question pondered in Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Let's dive into the fascinating ways our Sages understood the seemingly simple verse: "The heart of the wise is to his right, and the heart of a fool is to his left" (Ecclesiastes 10:2).
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa offers a compelling analogy. Imagine two people, each with a kor – a dry measure – of grain. One has wheat, the other barley. The first person declares, "If yours is barley, mine is wheat, and if mine is wheat, yours is barley. Either way, I’m taking the wheat!" It's a win-win for him, right? He’s ensuring he gets the better grain.
This leads us to Abraham and Lot. Remember their story in Genesis? They had to separate because their possessions were too great for the land to sustain them both. Abraham tells Lot, "If to the left, I will go to the right, and if to the right, I will go to the left" (Genesis 13:9). Now, Rabbi Ḥanina ben Rabbi Yitzḥak points out something intriguing about the Hebrew here. It doesn’t say "esmola" – "I will go to the left." Instead, it says "asme’ila." This subtle difference shifts the meaning to "I will cause to go to the left." Even if you are impertinent or think you're being clever, Abraham implies, I will ultimately be the one who directs you to the left. Ultimately, Abraham is choosing the path of wisdom, the "right," while Lot, in choosing first, is unknowingly being guided towards the "left," the path of the fool.
The text goes on to say that Abraham is telling Lot: ultimately, I will go to the right, the direction of the wise, and you will go to the left, which is the direction of the fool.
We even hear of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, a central figure in the compilation of the Mishnah. When someone appeared before him for judgment, if the losing party accepted the ruling, all was well. But if they didn't? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi would instruct a member of his household to "cause him to go left," a signal that the person was wrong and should be struck from the other side. It was a dramatic way of illustrating the consequences of foolishness.
But there's more! The Kohelet Rabbah offers another interpretation, connecting this verse to Jacob and Esau. "The heart of the wise is to his right" – this, we are told, is Jacob. Why? Because "Jacob arose and placed his sons and his wives upon the camels" (Genesis 31:17) when fleeing from Laban. He prioritized his sons, understanding that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation, ensuring the continuation of the Jewish people.
Conversely, "And the heart of a fool is to his left" – this is the wicked Esau, as it is stated: "Esau took his wives, his sons, and his daughters" (Genesis 36:6). Esau, driven by his own desires, prioritized his wives over his children. It wasn't a matter of concern for their safety, as he placed his daughters, the most vulnerable, last. His priorities were skewed, reflecting the "leftward" path of foolishness.
So, what does it all mean? Is it really about the literal right and left? Perhaps not. It’s about priorities, about choices, about understanding what truly matters. The "right" represents wisdom, foresight, and a focus on the enduring. The "left" symbolizes shortsightedness, selfish desires, and a disregard for what's truly important.
As we journey through life, we're constantly faced with choices. Which path will we choose? The path of Jacob, prioritizing future generations and the continuation of tradition? Or the path of Esau, focused on immediate gratification? The Kohelet Rabbah invites us to contemplate this, to consider where our "heart" truly lies, and to strive always to walk on the right.