And one particular passage in Kohelet (3:12-13) offers a surprising answer: "I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Also, every man who eats and drinks, and sees good in all his toil; this, too, is a gift of God."
Sounds simple enough, right? Enjoy life! But what does it really mean to "rejoice" and "do good?" What does it mean to "eat and drink?"
That's where the rabbinic interpretations, the midrashim, come in. They unpack the layers of meaning hidden within these verses. And Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of these interpretations on Ecclesiastes, offers a fascinating perspective.
The text repeats the same passage from Kohelet: “I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Also, that every man who eats and drinks…” And then, it presents a teaching.
Rabbi Tanhuma, quoting Rabbi Nahman son of Rav Shmuel bar Nahman, and Rabbi Menahama (or, according to some, Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha) in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzhak, gives us a radical reinterpretation. They say that whenever the phrase "eating and drinking" appears in Ecclesiastes, it's not just about physical sustenance. It's a metaphor! It's referring to Torah study and the performance of good deeds.
Mind blown?
Rabbi Yona takes it a step further. He points to another verse in Kohelet (8:15): "[There is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [ba’amalo] […during the days of his life…].”
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. Rabbi Yona plays on the Hebrew word ba’amalo, "in his toil." He interprets it as if it were be’olamo, "in his world." So, the verse is saying that eating, drinking, and rejoicing accompany a person in this world, “during the days of his life” – even to the grave.
But wait a minute... is there food and drink in the grave? Obviously not! So, what could possibly accompany a person to their final resting place? The answer, according to this midrash, is Torah and good deeds.
Think about it. We can't take our possessions with us. We can't take our status, our accolades. But the knowledge we've gained, the kindness we've shown, the positive impact we've had on the world – that accompanies us. That endures. That is our true reward.
So, the next time you find yourself searching for meaning, remember this interpretation. Perhaps true happiness isn't about fleeting pleasures, but about nourishing your soul with wisdom and filling your life with acts of loving-kindness. Maybe that's the real feast that sustains us, not just in this world, but beyond.