This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, begins with the commandment of Bikurim, bringing the first fruits of the seven species of the Land of Israel to G-d. The first fruits were brought to the Temple, received by the Kohen (priest) and placed next to the altar. When giving it to the Kohen, the person made a declaration referencing that our ancestor Jacob was saved from Laban, and that the Jewish people were saved from the Egyptians.
There were other great salvations that G-d did for the Jewish people. Why specifically are these two events part of the Bikurim?
About Bikurim, the Torah says, “It will be, when you come to the land... and you take possession of it and settle it.” Rashi explains that bringing Bikurim is required only after conquering and dividing the land of Israel. In other words, once they took up permanent residence and began enjoying the bounty of the land they were obligated to bring Bikurim.
There are two other mentions of permanent residence: The 20 years Jacob lived with Laban, and the 210 years the Jews lived in Egypt. But in those cases, we didn’t get to enjoy the bounty of the land. Thus, we mention them in the Bikurim declaration to show how grateful we are that we can enjoy the bounty in contrast to the times when we couldn’t.
On a deeper level, the fruit refers to the soul as it is Above; when brought as Bikurim it refers to the soul within the body. The idea of bringing Bikurim is to strengthen the bond between the soul and its source Above. When we bring Bikurim (the first and the best), like with any offering, we bring ourselves closer. And when we recite the declaration, verbalizing our gratitude to G-d, we draw down the first and the best part (the “Bikurim”) of the soul.
This will give us a deeper understanding of the words of the declaration. The two events mentioned, Jacob with Laban and the exile in Egypt, both begin with a descent, being drawn down from the highest state of holiness into the lowest places. But the descent is followed by an ascent, being elevated to the highest level, and in the case of Egypt, to the point that G-d revealed Himself to us at Mount Sinai.
The point of drawing down from the highest and holiest into the lowest, is to affect it and make it ready for G-d to be able to dwell there openly as well. This is the idea of Bikurim, to make working the land a holy endeavor, by drawing down G-dliness into the mundane work we do. And of course, we will reap the fruits of our labor, turning our mundane efforts into the first and the best for G-d.
It is not enough to bring ourselves closer to G-d through our study of Torah and the performance of mitzvas (commandments), but we must also draw G-dliness down into the mundane, daily activities that we do, until they become holy as well.
We will reap the fruits of our labor when we merit the ultimate revelation with the coming of Moshiach. May he come soon.
Adapted by Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz from the teachings of the Rebbe, yitzihurwitz.blogspot.com. Rabbi Hurwitz, who is battling ALS, and his wife Dina, are emissaries of the Rebbe in Temecula, Ca.
