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Why does Koheles say the rich person can't sleep while the worker sleeps peacefully? The shiur develops a yesod that wealth, like children, represents divine stewardship rather than personal gifts. This reframes parental anxiety and financial responsibility as purposeful vigilance about fulfilling our divine mandate rather than protecting what we own.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the verse from Koheles 5:11: "The sleep of the worker is sweet, but the satisfaction of the rich person doesn't let him sleep." Initially, this appears to be a simple observation about stress levels between workers and wealthy individuals. However, Rabbi Zweig demonstrates that King Shlomo is conveying a much deeper message about divine responsibility versus personal gifts. The key insight emerges from understanding that the Hebrew word "hasava" means satisfaction, not wealth. A truly satisfied person should sleep well, yet the verse says they don't sleep. This paradox reveals that wealth is not meant for personal satisfaction but represents a divine responsibility that should keep one awake with concern for proper stewardship.
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Koheles 5:11
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