Welcome back to another episode of Nach Daily with Koheles chapter 11, the next-to-last chapter in the Megila.

The perek opens with the words, “Shalach lach’m’cha al pnei hamayim, ki v’rov hayamim timtsa’enu – Send forth your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” The classical Meforshim understand this as telling us to not be stingy when giving tzedaka. By providing for those in need, you’ll receive ample reward in the world to come.

The Ramad Walli offers a humbling idea. Even if you think that a person doesn’t really deserve tzedaka, give it to him anyway. When you get to the Olam Haemes, the World of Truth, you will knock on the door of the Heavenly Court and will need a form of tzedaka to gain admittance. You don’t want Hashem to turn you away just as you turned away the person you thought undeserving.

It was unfortunate enough for a person to feel the shame of knocking on doors to collect money. You should not have added to his shame by turning him away.

The reason that Hashem made you wealthy to begin with, says the Ramad Walli, is to put you in a position to help other people, not for you to “eat your bread alone.” Therefore, even if you think others are undeserving, don’t be so particular and strict about those to whom you give money. Hashem won’t turn you away, and will act mida keneged mida towards you. You can never be too generous.

The perek continues to relate the need to be generous. Just as rain clouds don’t discriminate and withhold rain, we shouldn’t withhold charity, like a fallen, rotten tree which has no use and decomposes on the ground.

It’s not sufficient to be theoretical, to just “watch the wind” and “study the clouds.” You need to be practical, because otherwise you will never be productive by reaping and sowing (verse 4). We need to work diligently, to busy ourselves in the morning and not to be idle at night, as we never know what will work out for us. That

being said, even with all our hard work and perseverance, we can never really understand God’s ways.

In verse 7 it says “U’masok ha’or, v’tov la’einayim lir’os es hashamesh

– Sweet is the light, and what a delight for the eyes to behold the sun.”

Rashi explains. How sweet is the light of Torah. And praise worthy is the people that learn it all to clarify the clear Halacha!

The Ramad Walli explains in a kabbalistic manner that this refers to Olam Habah. How great is the light in the next world! The ohr (air), there, is completely pure and rarified with no mixture of bad in it all. The Tzaddkim will be able to gaze at the Ohr Elyon of the Holy King. Their eyes will benefit and gain pleasure from gazing at the awesome Divine Splendor. This is in direct contrast to staring at the sun in this world, which will damage your eyes. The light in Olam Habah will be totally healing to the eyes. You will be drawn towards it and experience pure bliss.

The word Es in our passuk hints to this. Es represents all the levels from Aleph, the 1st level, through Suf, the last. You’ll be able to see a complete picture of the goodness of life.

The sweetness in our passuk is referring to Torah, which is sweeter than honey.

The Ramad Walli goes on to explain that with the sweet light of Torah a person is able to see beyond this world to the pure light of Olam Habah, to see the purpose of this world. This long-term vision comes directly from the light of Torah, which illuminates our eyes.

In verses 9 and 10, Shlomo ends by urging us to enjoy life by letting our hearts delight in our younger years, knowing that Hashem will call you to reckon with what you’ve done. It’s fitting, therefore, to work on your middos and rid yourself of anger because even your childhood and youth are futile.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll be finishing

Megilas Koheles.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day!

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