This article was written by Yael Stochel, summer inchworm 2019
GrowTorah Core Value: Incubating Emunah
Lesson Title: Bikkurim
In preparation for entering Eretz Israel, Moshe gives additional mitzvot related to settling the land. Among them is mitzvat bikkurim – bringing the first fruits to the Temple as an offering. This mitzvah is unique to the land of Israel, and to the Seven Species of the land. How do we specially recognize the fruits of Israel? How can we bring that appreciation into our garden and our lives?
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
Which fruits are meant to be brought as bikkurim?
- First fruits – but not literally
- The Seven Species
- The best fruits, which are grown in the best soil
Are there any plants that grow particularly well in our garden, as the Shivat HaMinim do in Israel?
What is the importance of soil quality in growing good fruit?
(ב) כֵּיצַד מַעֲלִין אֶת הַבִּכּוּרִים. כָּל הָעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁבַּמַּעֲמָד מִתְכַּנְּסוֹת לָעִיר שֶׁל מַעֲמָד, וְלָנִין בִּרְחוֹבָהּ שֶׁל עִיר, וְלֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין לַבָּתִּים. וְלַמַּשְׁכִּים, הָיָה הַמְמֻנֶּה אוֹמֵר (ירמיה לא), קוּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶה צִיּוֹן אֶל בֵּית ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ:
(ג) הַקְּרוֹבִים מְבִיאִים הַתְּאֵנִים וְהָעֲנָבִים, וְהָרְחוֹקִים מְבִיאִים גְּרוֹגָרוֹת וְצִמּוּקִים. וְהַשּׁוֹר הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְקַרְנָיו מְצֻפּוֹת זָהָב, וַעֲטֶרֶת שֶׁל זַיִת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵיהֶם, עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעִים קָרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלָיִם. הִגִּיעוּ קָרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, שָׁלְחוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְעִטְּרוּ אֶת בִּכּוּרֵיהֶם. הַפַּחוֹת, הַסְּגָנִים וְהַגִּזְבָּרִים יוֹצְאִים לִקְרָאתָם. לְפִי כְבוֹד הַנִּכְנָסִים הָיוּ יוֹצְאִים. וְכָל בַּעֲלֵי אֻמָּנִיּוֹת שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם עוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵיהֶם וְשׁוֹאֲלִין בִּשְׁלוֹמָם, אַחֵינוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, בָּאתֶם לְשָׁלוֹם:
(2) How were the bikkurim taken up [to Jerusalem]? All [the inhabitants of] the cities of the maamad would assemble in the city of the maamad, and they would spend the night in the open street and they would not entering any of the houses. Early in the morning the officer would say: “Let us arise and go up to Zion, into the house of the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 31:5).
(3) Those who lived near [Jerusalem] would bring fresh figs and grapes, while those who lived far away would bring dried figs and raisins. An ox would go in front of them, his horns bedecked with gold and with an olive-crown on its head. The flute would play before them until they would draw close to Jerusalem. When they drew close to Jerusalem they would send messengers in advance, and they would adorn their bikkurim. The governors and chiefs and treasurers [of the Temple] would go out to greet them, and according to the rank of the entrants they would go forth. All the skilled artisans of Jerusalem would stand up before them and greet them saying, “Our brothers, men of such and such a place, we welcome you in peace.”
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
Just as the Bikkurim were brought to Yerushalayim with so much celebration and joy, how can we show extra appreciation to Hashem for the plants that grow well in our garden?
Living the Lesson
(4) But every man shall sit Under his grapevine or fig tree With no one to disturb him. For it was the LORD of Hosts who spoke.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What do the grapevine and fig tree symbolize?
How does this symbolism relate to their special status as part of the Shivat HaMinim?
- Prosperity and peace, sustenance comes from the native plants of Israel
וְהַתְּאֵנִים וְהָעֲנָבִים וְהַשְּׁקֵדִים לְעוֹלָם טוֹבִים בֵּין רְטֻבִּין בֵּין יְבֵשִׁין וְאוֹכֵל אָדָם מֵהֶם כָּל צָרְכּוֹ. וְלֹא יַתְמִיד אֲכִילָתָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן טוֹבִים מִכָּל פְּרִי הָאִילָנוֹת:
But figs, grapes and almonds are ever good to eat, whether dry or fresh; of them man may eat all he is in need of, but he should not make them part of his diet permanently, notwithstanding that they are better than all other fruits of the trees.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ‑יָ אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, עַל אם אכל פירות משבעת מינים יאמר: הָעֵץ וְעַל פְּרִי הָעֵץ: וְעַל תְּנוּבַת הַשֹּדֶה וְעַל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה שֶׁרָצִיתָ וְהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֶאֱכוֹל מִפִּרְיָהּ וְלִשֹבּוֹעַ מִטּוּבָהּ. רַחֵם ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וְעַל יִשֹרָאֵל עַמָּךְ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירָךְ וְעַל הַר צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדָךְ. וְעַל מִזְבָּחָךְ. וְעַל הֵיכָלָךְ. וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְהַעֲלֵנוּ לְתוֹכָהּ. וְשֹמְּחֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנָהּ וּנְבָרְכָךְ עָלֶיהָ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה כִּי אַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וְנוֹדֶה לְךָ ה' אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל על שבעת המינים הַפֵּרוֹת:
Blessed are you, LORD our God, the King of the Universe, for (if one ate fruit from the Seven Species, say): the tree and the fruit of the tree: And over the bounty of the field and all the land, pleasant, good and broad, that you willed and gave to our ancestors as inheritance, to eat from her fruits and to be satisfied from her goodness. Have mercy, LORD our God, on us and on Israel, your people, and on Jerusalem, your city, and on Mount Zion, the resting place of your glory. And on your altars. And on your Temple. And build Jerusalem, the holy city, quickly in our days. And bring us up into her. And let us rejoice in her buildings and lets us bless You over her in holiness and purity, because You are good and make good for everyone, and we will thank You, LORD our God, for the land. Blessed are you LORD our God, for the land and for for the Seven Species the fruit.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
Even though we no longer bring Bikkurim, how do we still treat the Shivat HaMinim differently from other food?
In the garden, how do we similarly thank Hashem for all vegetables we eat?
- power and specificity of brachot