By Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
This week’s parsha, Ki Savo, tells of the mitzva of bikurim, the giving of the first fruits to the Kohein.
“Ki savo el ha’aretz…, When you enter the land that HaShem, your G-d, gives you for an inheritance… You shall take the first of all the fruit… and you shall put it in a basket, and go to the place that HaShem, your G-d, will choose to have His name dwell there.” (Devarim 26:1-2) Let’s travel back in time to the days the Beis HaMikdash stood in Yerushalayim. It’s harvest time, and the farmers are in the field. They’re busy collecting bikurim, the first fruits of the Shivas Haminim, the Seven Species that Eretz Yisroel is known for – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
The Mishna describes the beauty and splendor of giving bikurim. The farmers of each community would join together and make the trek to Yerushalayim. What a sight it must have been! An ox would walk before them, its horns adorned with gold, and a wreath of olive leaves resting upon its head.
Melodious tunes from a chalil, a flute would accompany them until they approached Yerushalayim.
Upon nearing the city, they would send word ahead about their imminent arrival. The farmers would then decorate their bikurim baskets with flowers. Important officials would come out to greet them. The tradesmen of Yerushalayim would stand before them, and in a display of unity call out “Acheinu, our brothers, men of such and such a place, we welcome you in peace.”
Our Torah is timeless, its messages for all generations. How does the mitzva of bikurim speak to us today? Rabbi Moshe Alshich, known as The Alshich HaKodosh (1508-1593), teaches that the mitzva of bikurim is a lesson in hakoras hatov, recognizing the good, having gratitude and showing appreciation. The farmer works the field, plants, and fertilizes. But then looks up to the heavens, and says, HaShem, I need Your help. The right amount of rainfall, enough to nourish the earth but not too much that would flood the field. Sunshine to help the crops grow, but not a scorcher that would parch the land. The crops should be protected from storms and strong winds. And then it is harvesting time. Time to say thank you HaShem. Time to acknowledge that no matter man’s effort, we need HaShem’s brachos.
It’s not just the farmer who should live with a connection to HaShem, but all of us. The farmer does everything he can do, but recognizes that he cannot make the seed grow. That is the essence of bikurim. A doctor can study, prepare, and operate—but cannot guarantee the outcome. A businessperson can work tirelessly—but cannot control the market.
A parent can nurture a child—but cannot determine every outcome.
A teacher can teach—but cannot control what a student ultimately absorbs. We are all farmers.
No matter where life takes us, no matter what profession or pursuit we choose, we must acknowledge HaShem being with us, guiding us along the way.
A friend shared with me that her mother underwent serious surgery that Boruch HaShem had a successful outcome. When she thanked the doctor, he told her that it wasn’t his skills, but “G-d and His angels were resting on my shoulders”. A humble thought that is the spirit and meaning of bikurim. A spirit that each of us can and should bring into our lives.
When the farmer would offer his bikurim, he would do so with a tefilla – Mikra Bikurim, Declaration of the First Fruit. “And you shall go to the Kohein… v’amarta, and you shall say…” (Devarim 26:3) The Torah emphasizes that the farmer’s expression of appreciation must be verbalized. A lesson for us to take to heart. The Sifri commentary on Devarim learns from here the importance of voicing words of thanks. It’s not enough to think it, one must say it. Even if we have strong feelings of gratitude in our mind, and feel appreciation within our heart, it is not sufficient. Gratitude isn’t merely an emotion; it is an act. V’amarta, one must say the words. Gratitude is not fully assimilated until it is verbalized. It is not only meaningful to the one who received the thanks but leaves a positive mark upon the one who offers the thanks.
And what does the farmer offering bikurim say? He recounts the history of our people, going back to Yaakov Avinu. He speaks of Yaakov’s trials and travails. The difficult days in Lavan’s house. Of Yaakov’s going down to Egypt, and the eventual enslavement of Bnei Yisroel. The farmer continues and tells of HaShem’s answering their cries of pain with a miraculous exodus.
Why the history lesson – why not a simple “Thank You HaShem”? Yaakov’s story, and subsequently our nation’s story, is our story. From Yaakov to the nation in Egypt, to the farmer planting a seed, the message is all the same. All face challenges and hardships. Yet, all saw good. Yaakov became the father of Bnei Yisroel. The Jews enslaved in Egypt were freed and became a great nation. And the farmer saw his seeds rise to a flourishing crop. A reminder to the farmer – a reminder to us – not to despair. All will be good with HaShem’s help.
V’amarta, to tell over. As the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, the message of bikurim is especially powerful. They endured much pain and darkness. But then, like the farmer, they planted new seeds. And like the farmer who has emuna that his seeds will take root, my parents and grandparents davened to see a beautiful crop, a new beginning, trusting that HaShem will be with them. And, like the farmer offering his prayer of thanks, I remember my parents and grandparents thanking HaShem for bringing them to a time in life where they saw true nachas, the bracha of a growing family, another link in the chain of Am Yisroel.
We are in Chodesh Elul. There is a well-known saying from Rav Shneur Zalman of Ladi, HaMelech ba’sadeh, the King is in the field. HaShem, the King, so to say, leaves His palace and comes to the field to be with His people. To listen to our tefillos and bakashos, our prayers and requests. From this week’s parsha, we learn lessons from the field. We learn from the farmer who doesn’t bring bikurim when his entire crop is fully grown. He brings the first fruits. So too, Elul is not only a time to ask Hashem for what we need. It is a time to stop and recognize the blessings we already have. Lessons of humility and gratitude. Lessons to bring us closer to our King. Like the farmer bringing bikurim, it is a time to realize that all the good in our life comes from HaShem.