The Text of the Phrase “Ki Kol Ma’asenu Tohu”

Each morning, before the Korbanot section, we recite a prayer ("Ribon Ha'olamim") in which we acknowledge our lowliness, recognizing that we are unworthy of G-d's kindness, and that even the most powerful are weak in relation to G-d and even the wisest are ignorant in relation to G-d. In this prayer, we humbly confess, "Ki Chol Ma'asenu Tohu" – "for all our actions are worthless." The obvious question arises as to how we can make such a pronouncement. After all, while we must all acknowledge that we are far from perfect, is it true that "all our actions are worthless"? We spend time praying, learning Torah, and performing acts of kindness for others, we give charity, and we do numerous worthwhile things throughout the day, every day. We of course all have much room for improvement, and, unfortunately, we are all guilty of wasting time on vanity, but it certainly seems exaggerated to claim that nothing we do has any value. Due to this question, there were some Poskim who changed the text of the phrase – replacing the word "Kol" ("all") with the word "Rob" ("most"). With this emendation, the text acknowledges that most of our actions are valueless, as we pursue vanity, but not that we never involve ourselves in meaningful activities such as prayer, Misvot and Torah study. However, the word "Kol" appears in all the texts that we have from earlier generations – including the text of the Rambam, Rav Amram Gaon, the Tur, and the Abudarham. Therefore, it seems very difficult to emend the text and change "Kol" to "Rob." The explanation, as Rav Yisrael Bitan discusses, likely stems from a comment of the Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 28:1) interpreting the verse in Kohelet (1:3), "Ma Yitron La'adam Be'chol Amalo" – "What does a person gain from all his toil?" The Midrash notes that certainly, there is much gained from a person's toil in Torah study, but Kohelet speaks of "Amalo" – a person's own "toil," meaning, that which he does for himself, for his own enjoyment and satisfaction. The "toil" that a person engages in for G-d, so-to-speak – his efforts in Torah and Misvot – are certainly precious and immensely valuable. It is only "Amalo" – his self-serving pursuits – that offer him no benefit. Likewise, we may explain the phrase "Ki Chol Ma'asenu Tohu" to mean that "Ma'asenu" – everything we do for ourselves, and not for the service of Hashem – has no value or significance. Therefore, we should not change the text to "Rob," and should instead maintain the text found in earlier sources – "Ki Chol Ma'asenu Tohu."