The opening verses of this week’s Torah reading (Ki Savo 26:1-2) hint at a roadmap that can teach us how to act in this world so that we merit life in the World to Come.
And it will be. The Hebrew word employed here (והיה) signifies joy (see Vayikra Raba 11:7), because all divine service must be carried out with joy, gladness of heart, and great inspiration. This is a prerequisite for spiritual growth. That having been established: when you come into the land which the L-rd, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and settle it. We may wish to, through serving G-d with joy, earn our rightful place ("an inheritance") in the World to Come, "settling in it" without undergoing any reincarnations. If so:
And you shall take from the first of all fruit of the ground, which you will bring from your land, which the L-rd, your G-d, is giving you. One must seek out the “first fruit” in all physicality—the supernal spark of divine wisdom hidden in the food we eat and the actions we undertake. For our main task in this world is to single-mindedly dedicate our lives to interacting with physicality (the fruit of the ground; the land) with intent to elevate those sparks to holiness.
And you shall put them into a basket. The Hebrew word for basket (טנא) is an acronym for the words טעמים נקודות אותיות (cantillation marks, vowels, letters)—hinting to the study of Torah. Lest we think that deep intent is only necessary when it comes to elevating holy sparks in the physical world—but that Torah can be studied by rote—the verse clarifies: the words of Torah must be placed in the metaphorical basket as well, studied deliberately, with proper intent.
After having refined the physical world and studied Torah appropriately, the Torah promises that we will go to the place which the L-rd, your G-d, will choose to have His Name dwell.
Translated by: Yechiel Krisch
Adapted from the teachings of the Mezritcher Maggid
