May we always appreciate the gift of Eretz Yisrael, and in that zechut, may we soon ascend to bring Bikkurim once again to the rebuilt Beit HaMikdash, speedily in our days!
Parshat Ki Tavo opens with the mitzvah of Bikkurim – bringing the first fruits to the Beit HaMikdash. The Torah states (Devarim 26:1-2):
“When you enter the land that Hashem your G-d is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that Hashem your G-d is giving you, put it in a basket and go to the place where Hashem your G-d will choose to establish His presence…”
🌟 Why Bikkurim? The Malbim’s Insight
The Malbim, quoting the Midrash Sifrei, teaches a remarkable idea:
The Jewish people merited Eretz Yisrael precisely because of their devotion to Bikkurim.
Think about it—after months of hard labor, planting, tending, and waiting for produce, a farmer’s natural instinct would be to enjoy the very first fruits. Yet, instead of claiming them for himself, he gathers them, places them in a basket, and ascends to Jerusalem to dedicate them to Hashem.
This act shows that all his toil was not for personal gain, but rooted in gratitude and acknowledgment that everything is a gift from Hashem. That recognition, says the Malbim, is what gives Am Yisrael the ultimate gift—the Land of Israel itself.
✨ The Chid”a’s Question: Taking or Giving?
The Chid”a (in Nachal Kedumim) notes a curious wording: the Torah says “VeLakachta”—“you shall take” the first fruits. Shouldn’t the Torah have said “VeNatata”—“you shall give”?
His answer is profound: when one gives a gift to Hashem and it is accepted, the giver is actually the one who receives the greatest joy and fulfillment. By having Hashem accept our offering, we are in fact “taking” the highest blessing—connection, closeness, and pride in serving Him.
🙏 The Lesson for Us
The mitzvah of Bikkurim is not just about agriculture—it is about perspective. It teaches us that the true key to receiving and holding onto the Land of Israel is gratitude and recognition.
