Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, end of Chapter 5

again, reminder that it's good to have the text in front of you and this story will be referred to.

Kohelet Chapter 5, 18
matat, matanah, gift, gift of G-d
lismo'ach b'amalo = same'ach b'chelko being happy in all one does, all one's work, actions etc
There's a responsibility in high positions, noblesse oblige, however it's spelled.
You can't be important without work. Many possessions, much responsibities. Just the upkeep on the possessions, not easy. Read the story linked to on top, ok at least the last part. Running after land and possessions can kill us. And then all we need is a grave.
back to 17
My "Artscroll" translation commentary on this is good. It helps explain that according to the Midrash, all the eating and drinking refer to Torah and good deeds. According to Nissan, we shouldn't waste our energies on materialsim, must invest in teh spiritual, too. If yoo much on the material, we end up with nothing, like the man in the story. If someone uses his possessions for the negative the mattot become mettot, death.
Enjoy the mitzvot you can do in the time you have.
19 We must remember that we have only a limited amount of time to live.
Who pays attention to what we do? G-d.

Chapter 6 is really the same thoughts, continuation as 5, but the Christians who divided the chapters for printing had their reasons.
6, 1 What's the evil? Shlomo saw it "under the sun." I have to see what when sun, shemesh and heavens, shamayim are used. Tehre must be a pattern.
2- Actually it's in our power to enjoy what we have, or not. That's free will. To waste or to do something beneficial. Once we have something, it's our responsibility how we use it. we must divide what we have with others.
Elimelech, Naomi's husband, was a very wealthy man in Beit Lechem, during a time of poverty. Instead of sharing his wealth, he took his wife and two sons to Moav. There he and his sons died, and their money was gone. Eventually Naomi returned to their city, with Ruth, poverty stricken, destitute. Punishment for fleeing.
1- ra'ah there's an evil in this world.
2- the evil doesn't even want children, because then he'll have to share his wealth with them. If you don't use your wealth for mitzvot, the riches turn to waste and suffereing.
3- evil better not have kids or like those without children, or children who want payment and don't do things without getting something in return.

told us a story about two families

That's it for this week