Parashat Ki Tavo

The first word in our Parasha is “Vehaya” (“והיה") and it has the same letters of HaShem’s name in Hebrew ("יהוה" - Y.H.V.H), alluding to that He kept his promise to our forefathers and us of giving the land of Israel. Only by His merit and our forefathers’ merit we received the Promised Land then and now as we learn from the words “Ki-Tavo” “כִּי-תָבוֹא אֶל-הָאָרֶץ”. The numerical value of the words “Ki-Tavo (“כִּי-תָבוֹא”) is 439, referring to the last year in exile with is 439. While they are about to enter the Land of Israel on the 440th year. As promised by HaShem to Avraham at "ברית בין הבתרים" Berit Ben HaBetarim (The Covenant between the Parts). Interestingly enough the words “Moshe Ben Yocheved” "משה בן יוכבד” is also 439 alluding his leadership to redemption and entry to Israel. The first Mitzvah upon arriving into Eretz Israel was Bikurim ("בכורים"), bringing the first fruits to Beit-Hamikdash.

In our weekly Parashah there are 98 curses unfortunately they did take part throughout history when we left HaShem through all the inquisitions, the holocaust and other atrocities. The holy Zohar says that we can reverse them to make them and 98 blessings in addition to the 11 blessings that we have in the fifth Aaliyah.

It is interesting to see that the first verse has fourteen words, alluding to the same number of 14 years it took Bnei-Yisrael to conquer the land, divid it and settle in it. After they fought and won all wars against the seven nations, Joshua then divided the land between the tribes according to their physical and spiritual needs. Once again HaShem reiterates His promise to give the Holy Land to the people of Israel as their inheritance. The word Bikurim comes from the word Bechor (“בכור") firstborn, as we are HaShem’s  Bechor (“בכור") firstborn. We bring to HaShem as thanksgiving for that which He gives us first.

The Bikurim offering of the first fruits in the Temple depicts how it is seen in Kabbalah as the secret of unifying the spiritual with the physical worlds. The Zohar says that the seven species represent the seven Sefirot (Divine attributes) of the world of Tikkun (fixes). We are obligated to tie a ribbon around the first fruit in order to mark it and dedicate it to HaShem. Such act came to fulfill the Mitzvah of sacrificing the firstborn to HaShem, that emphasized the belief that HaShem  and all that He gives us. In return we are “giving” back the first fruit as it is really belongs to HaShem to begin with. Such act show our full Emunah (faith) in HaShem, as we must perform without hesitations or conditions. By doing so we ensure that HaShem will provide us with all our needs in the future.

Our first commandment is to take the first ripened fruits and place them in a basket, and bring it as offerings to HaShem in Beit-Hamikdash. Only after Bnei-Yisrael were settled in their portion of land they were obligated to bring offerings. The instructions of bringing the first fruit comes to teach us that we must thank HaShem and give the “firstborn” to HaShem, just as he saved our firstborn in Egypt. Bnei-Yisrael were instructed to place the Bikurim in a basket; the Midrash says that just as our Neshamah (soul) is placed in our physical body (basket) for protection, so too the first fruits are placed in the basket for protection.

The obligation of Bikurim applies to the "seven species" of Eretz-Yisrael:

       I.         Wheat (Chitah in Hebrew)

      II.         Barley (Se'orah in Hebrew)

     III.         Grapes (Gefen in Hebrew), usually consumes as wine

    IV.         Figs (Te'enah in Hebrew)

     V.         Pomegranates (Rimon in Hebrew)

    VI.         Olives (Aayit in Hebrew), consumes in an oil form

   VII.         Dates (Tamar or D’vash {honey} in Hebrew)

Each of the seven species represent a Sephira, a divine power emanate from God. The Gomorah says that a child will only speak after eating wheat bread.

King David wrote (Tehilim 122) the famous verse "עומדות, היו רגלינו--בשערייך, ירושלים” meaning “we were joyfully standing in Jerusalem” and welcoming all the people of Israel who came to perform the Mitzvah of Bikurim. While performing the Mitzvah of Bikurim Bnei-Yisrael had to read verses 26:5-8; they were obligated to sleep in Jerusalem for at least one night to fulfill the full Mitzvah of the three Regalim. The Three Pilgrimage Festivals, in Hebrew Shalosh Regalim (שלוש רגלים), are three major festivals in Judaism—Pesach (Passover), Shavuot.

R’ Yoram Dahan

www.nesshatorah.org