25 Aug WE ARE ALL FARMERS

This week’s parsha, Ki Savo, tells of the
mitzva of bikurim, the giving of the first
fruits to the Kohein.
“Ki savo el ha’aretz…, When you enter the
land that HaShem, your G-d, gives you for an
inheritance… You shall take the first of all
the fruit… and you shall put it in a basket,
and go to the place that HaShem, your G-d,
will choose to have His name dwell there.”
(Devarim 26:1-2)
Let’s travel back in time to the days the Beis
HaMikdash stood in Yerushalayim. It’s
harvest time, and the farmers are in the field.
They’re busy collecting bikurim, the first
fruits of the Shivas Haminim, the Seven
Species that Eretz Yisroel is known for –
wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates,
olives and dates.
The Mishna describes the beauty and
splendor of giving bikurim. The farmers of
each community would join together and
make the trek to Yerushalayim. What a sight
it must have been! An ox would walk before
them, its horns adorned with gold, and a
wreath of olive leaves resting upon its head.

Melodious tunes from a chalil, a flute would
accompany them until they approached
Yerushalayim.
Upon nearing the city, they would send word
ahead about their imminent arrival. The
farmers would then decorate their bikurim
baskets with flowers. Important officials
would come out to greet them. The tradesmen
of Yerushalayim would stand before them,
and in a display of unity call out “Acheinu,
our brothers, men of such and such a place,
we welcome you in peace.”
Our Torah is timeless, its messages for all
generations. How does the mitzva of bikurim
speak to us today? Rabbi Moshe Alshich,
known as The Alshich HaKodosh (1508-
1593), teaches that the mitzva of bikurim is a
lesson in hakoras hatov, recognizing the
good, having gratitude and showing
appreciation. The farmer works the field,
plants, and fertilizes. But then looks up to
the heavens, and says, HaShem, I need Your
help. The right amount of rainfall, enough to
nourish the earth but not too much that would
flood the field. Sunshine to help the crops
grow, but not a scorcher that would parch the
land. The crops should be protected from
storms and strong winds. And then it is

harvesting time. Time to say thank you
HaShem. Time to acknowledge that no
matter man’s effort, we need HaShem’s
brachos.
It’s not just the farmer who should live with a
connection to HaShem, but all of us. The
farmer does everything he can do, but
recognizes that he cannot make the seed
grow. That is the essence of bikurim.
A doctor can study, prepare, and operate—
but cannot guarantee the outcome.
A businessperson can work tirelessly—but
cannot control the market.
A parent can nurture a child—but cannot
determine every outcome.
A teacher can teach—but cannot control
what a student ultimately absorbs.
We are all farmers.
No matter where life takes us, no matter what
profession or pursuit we choose, we must
acknowledge HaShem being with us, guiding
us along the way.
A friend shared with me that her mother
underwent serious surgery that Boruch
HaShem had a successful outcome. When
she thanked the doctor, he told her that it
wasn’t his skills, but “G-d and His angels
were resting on my shoulders”. A humble
thought that is the spirit and meaning of
bikurim. A spirit that each of us can and
should bring into our lives.
When the farmer would offer his bikurim,
he would do so with a tefilla – Mikra
Bikurim, Declaration of the First Fruit.
“And you shall go to the Kohein…
v’amarta, and you shall say…” (Devarim
26:3) The Torah emphasizes that the
farmer’s expression of appreciation must
be verbalized. A lesson for us to take to
heart. The Sifri commentary on Devarim
learns from here the importance of voicing
words of thanks. It’s not enough to think it,
one must say it. Even if we have strong
feelings of gratitude in our mind, and feel
appreciation within our heart, it is not
sufficient. Gratitude isn’t merely an
emotion; it is an act. V’amarta, one must
say the words. Gratitude is not fully
assimilated until it is verbalized. It is not
only meaningful to the one who received
the thanks but leaves a positive mark upon
the one who offers the thanks.
And what does the farmer offering bikurim
say? He recounts the history of our people,
going back to Yaakov Avinu. He speaks of
Yaakov’s trials and travails. The difficult
days in Lavan’s house. Of Yaakov’s going
down to Egypt, and the eventual
enslavement of Bnei Yisroel. The farmer
continues and tells of HaShem’s answering
their cries of pain with a miraculous
exodus.

Why the history lesson – why not a simple
“Thank You HaShem”? Yaakov’s story, and
subsequently our nation’s story, is our story.
From Yaakov to the nation in Egypt, to the
farmer planting a seed, the message is all the
same. All face challenges and hardships. Yet,
all saw good. Yaakov became the father of
Bnei Yisroel. The Jews enslaved in Egypt
were freed and became a great nation. And
the farmer saw his seeds rise to a flourishing
crop. A reminder to the farmer – a reminder
to us – not to despair. All will be good with
HaShem’s help.
V’amarta, to tell over. As the daughter and
granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, the
message of bikurim is especially powerful.
They endured much pain and darkness. But
then, like the farmer, they planted new seeds.
And like the farmer who has emuna that his
seeds will take root, my parents and
grandparents davened to see a beautiful crop,
a new beginning, trusting that HaShem will
be with them. And, like the farmer offering
his prayer of thanks, I remember my parents
and grandparents thanking HaShem for
bringing them to a time in life where they
saw true nachas, the bracha of a growing
family, another link in the chain of Am
Yisroel.

We are in Chodesh Elul. There is a well-
known saying from Rav Shneur Zalman of

Ladi, HaMelech ba’sadeh, the King is in the
field. HaShem, the King, so to say, leaves His
palace and comes to the field to be with His
people. To listen to our tefillos and bakashos,
our prayers and requests. From this week’s
parsha, we learn lessons from the field. We
learn from the farmer who doesn’t bring
bikurim when his entire crop is fully grown.
He brings the first fruits. So too, Elul is not
only a time to ask Hashem for what we need.
It is a time to stop and recognize the blessings
we already have. Lessons of humility and
gratitude. Lessons to bring us closer to our
King. Like the farmer bringing bikurim, it is
a time to realize that all the good in our life
comes from HaShem.