A Short Vort - Ki Savo 5786 (8.26)
Parshas Ki Savo is filled with powerful moments of transition. The parsha introduces the mitzvah of bikkurim, the first fruits brought to the Beis HaMikdash, the laws of maʼaser, the covenant at Har Gerizim and Har Eivel, and the lengthy passage of brachos and klalos.
At first glance, these sections seem to address very different aspects of Jewish life.
Yet perhaps they share one fundamental message: how we respond to what Hashem gives us.
The mitzvah of bikkurim begins when a person enters his field and sees that his first fruits of the shivas haʼminim have ripened: וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תָּבִיא מֵאַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר ה' אֱלֹקִיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ - You shall take from the first of every fruit of the ground that you bring from your Land that Hashem your G-d gives you (Devarim 26:2).
The farmer has planted, cultivated, waited and witnessed the fruits of his labor. Yet when the first fruits appear, he does not simply enjoy them himself. He takes them and brings them to Yerushalayim.
And there, he makes a declaration: אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי וַיִּרֶד מִצְרַיְמָה... וַיּוֹצִיאֵנוּ ה' מִמִּצְיִם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה... וַיִּתֶּן לָנוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ - An Aramean sought to destroy my father, and he descended to Egypt... and Hashem took us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm... and He gave us this Land, a Land flowing with milk and honey (26:5-9).
Only after recounting the story of our nation's journey does the farmer say: וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי אֶת רֵאשִׁית פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לִי ה - And now, behold, I have brought the first fruit of the ground that You, Hashem, have given me (26:10). The words are striking: “that You have given me.” The farmer has worked for the fruit, but he recognizes that ultimately, it is a gift from Hashem.
Perhaps this is the essence of bikkurim. Before we enjoy our blessings, we are asked to recognize where they came from.
This message becomes even more meaningful as we approach Rosh Hashanah, a day on which we recognize that everything we possess ultimately comes from Hashem, our King. Our health, our families, our homes, our livelihoods, our abilities, our accomplishments and our opportunities are not things we can take for granted.
The bikkurim farmer teaches us that gratitude requires more than saying "thank You." It requires us to recognize the Source of our blessings and then ask ourselves what we will do with the blessings He bestows upon us.
Later in the parsha the Torah moves to the national covenant at Har Gerizim and Har Eivel. Here the Jewish people stand together as one nation and accept upon themselves the responsibility of Torah. The brachos and klalos that follow describe the consequences of the choices we make as a nation.
Blessings that are bestowed upon us carry responsibility. And if we do not carry that responsibility and live up to it, R”L, the klalos will follow.
A person who is blessed with wealth has the responsibility to use it well. A person blessed with wisdom can use it to teach and uplift others. A person blessed with a position of influence can use it to strengthen the community. A person blessed with a loving family can create a home filled with Torah, kindness and chesed.
The question is not only, “What blessings has Hashem given me?" The deeper question is: "What am I doing with the blessings Hashem has given me?"
Perhaps this is one reason why Parshas Ki Savo is always read before Rosh Hashanah. Before we stand before Hashem in judgment, the Torah reminds us to look honestly at our lives.
What have we been given? Have we expressed gratitude? Have we recognized Hashem as the Source of our blessings? And perhaps most importantly, have we used those blessings in a way that brings kavod Shamayim?
The bikkurim farmer remembers where he came from, remembers the miracles that brought our nation to Eretz Yisrael, recognizes what Hashem has given him, and then expresses his gratitude.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, perhaps we are being invited to do the same.
Before we ask Hashem for more, we can pause and recognize what we already have. Before we focus on what is missing, we can acknowledge what has been given. Before we ask for another year, we can ask ourselves what we have done with the year we were given.
And perhaps this is the preparation we need most.
Ki Savo teaches us that a Jew does not simply receive blessings. A Jew responds to blessings with gratitude, responsibility and commitment.
May we merit to enter the coming year with hakaras hatov for all that Hashem has given us, with the humility to recognize that everything is ultimately from Him, and with the strength to use our blessings to bring more Torah, chesed, holiness and kavod Shamayim into the world.
And may Hashem bless all of Klal Yisrael with a year of revealed brachos, and may we merit to stand together once again in Yerushalayim, bringing our bikkurim with joy and gratitude, speedily in our days.
בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
Michal
