In this week’s Torah portion we learn about the commandment of Bikkurim, bringing the first and finest of ones produce to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem as a donation of gratitude to G-d. This commandment biblically came into effect once the Jews settled in Israel and began to harvest produce from their fields.

When a seed is sown, all the effort and hope of the farmer is planted with it. The farmer plants the seed in the soil, with the end vision of harvesting an abundant crop in mind. A seed represents an idea, the spark of wisdom from which all innovation flows. The idea must be mulled over and processed, just as the seed is buried in the soil, decomposing prior to sprouting its first growth. Once the idea is deliberated upon, it can be actualized into something tangible that can bring us abundance, just as the seed produces roots, branches, leaves, and fruit.. 

The seed that was planted first had to decompose, so too, any individual who sparks an idea, must approach it with humility and take a leap of faith. Those who attempt to skip this step and bulldoze their way forward towards their goal, often end up making many errors and wishing they had slowed down and thought things through. This act of planting the seed in the ground, where its decomposition and growth process is concealed from the eyes of the farmer is the act of prayer and acceptance of what G-d has in store for us. When we allow space for G-d into our creative process, the fear of failure is replaced by joy and curiosity about G-d’s plan.

The goal, the gathering of the fruits of our labor, is celebrated by those who carried their faith all the way through the process. This is where gratitude belongs. This place in our lives where we pause and reflect on the beauty of what we have achieved thus far.

At the moment, when we celebrate our finest achievements, we bring them as a gift to G-d, we bring awareness to the grace of G-d’s blessing that allowed us to arrive at this point. This is the beauty behind the commandment of Bikkurim, it keeps us humble, reminds us to have faith, and that our finest and most celebrated moments are gifts from G-d, never to be taken for granted.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin