29 Aug KI-TABO: HARNESSING OUR INNATE CREATIVE DRIVE

The Torah in Parashat
Ki-Tabo presents the
Misva of Bikkurim,
which obligates a
farmer to take the first
fruits that ripen, bring them to the Bet
Ha’mikdash, and give them to the Kohen.
The unique importance of this Misva is
expressed by an enigmatic comment of the
Midrash regarding the very first words of the
Torah – “Bereshit Bara Elokim” (literally,
“In the beginning, G-d created…”). The
Midrash interprets this phrase to mean
that G-d created the world for certain
things which are referred to as “Reshit”
(“the first”). For example, the world was
created for the sake of Torah study and
observance, as the Torah is referred to as
“Reshit” (“Hashem Kanani Reshit Darko”
– Mishleh 8:22). Additionally, the Midrash
remarks, the world was created for Am
Yisrael, which are likewise called “Reshit”
(“Reshit Tebuatoh” – Yirmiyahu 2:3).
More surprisingly, the Midrash writes that
the world was created for the sake of the
Misva of Bikkurim, the first fruits, which
are called “Reshit” (“Ve’lakahta Me’reshit
Kol Peri Ha’adama” – Debarim 26:2).
What is special about this Misva, and how

does its unique quality relate to the word
“Reshit”?
A profound answer to this question was
offered by Rav Haim of Sanz (1793-
1876), in his work Dibreh Haim. He
notes the approach taken by the Ramban
in interpreting the verse, “Bereshit Bara
Elokim,” explaining that before the actual
creation of the world, G-d created a certain
force, the potential for creation. (The
Ramban calls this force “Koah Hiyuli”).
It was through this primal force that G-d
then proceeded to create everything in the
universe. Rav Haim of Sanz explains that
we human beings, too, are endowed with
this force, this potential for creativity. This
force is the origin of our innate attraction
to newness, and why we bore easily. A
clear example is the frequency with which
people today check their phones for new
messages, new updates, and news flashes.
In fact, the very word “news” with which
the information industry refers to itself
was chosen to appeal to this innate drive.
We crave new information, new ideas, new
experiences, and new achievements. This
is because we are endowed with “Reshit”
– with a force of potentiality, the power to
create new things.

This drive, like all human drives, is both
critically important, and exceedingly
dangerous. It is what motives people
to build, to develop, to arrive at new
inventions and new groundbreaking
ideas. However, left unchecked, this
drive can lead a person to the wrong
places. In his search for newness, he will
seek forbidden experiences, and come
up with woefully misguided ideas. This
is an especially vexing problem for our
generation, when we all carry a limitless
reservoir of information in our pockets.
People searching for something new can
find anything on the internet – including
new content which they should never be
accessing.
The Misva of Bikkurim, Rav Haim of
Sanz explains, represents the need to
channel this innate creative drive toward
the service of Hashem. After working very
hard for months on end to produce fruit,
the farmer finally sees the first ripened
fruits, and craves them. But he is told not
to eat them, and to instead reserve them for
Hashem, so-to-speak, by bringing them to
the Kohen in the Bet Ha’mikdash. This
symbolizes the way we are to harness our
power of “Reshit,” our drive to experience

newness, toward meaningful, spiritual
goals.
It is natural to grow bored and restless,
and to seek something new. This is a drive
which we all have, and which we are all
supposed to have. We should never try to
suppress it – because it is part of our very
beings. Instead, we need to channel this
drive the right way. We should always be
seeking to expand our horizons within the
realm of Torah and Misvot – initiating and
participating in new programs, seeking
new opportunities for learning, for Hesed,
for community involvement, and so on.
This is the message of Bikkurim – that
we are to take the power force of “Reshit”
which Hashem implanted within us and
utilize it to improve ourselves and to
contribute to the world.