On Shabbos Chol HaMo’ed we read Koheles. There is a very obvious question throughout Koheles which must be addressed. Why does Shlomoh HaMelech, the wisest of all men, write so many times that this world is hevel havalim, sheer nothingness? After all, Chazal tell us in a few places that everything that Hashem created is for a purpose – why is this considered nothingness? Furthermore, the Yerushalmi (Berachos, 2nd Perek) says that Eliyohu HaNavi asked R’ Nehora for what purpose did Hashem create the insects and R’ Nehora told him that it was indeed for a specific purpose. If so, how do we understand the meaning of the pasukim in Koheles that say that everything in this world is for naught?
The sefer Otzros HaTorah (Succos, pg. 4) brings down a beautiful answer from the sefer Otzar Chaim. He says that if the number zero were to stand on its own, it would be worth nothing. However, the moment that it is paired with another number, that zero receives great significance. The same applies to this world: without utilizing this world for Avodas Hashem, everything is worthless, but the moment something in the world is used for Avodas Hashem, it becomes extremely valuable. When Shlomoh Hamelech says that this world is hevel havalim, he is referring to when we don’t utilize it properly for Avodas Hashem. If, however, one sanctifies even the most mundane things to be used for Avodas Hashem, they are no longer nothingness; on the contrary, they have been transformed into mitzvos! (Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Weg)
