This week’s Parsha, Parshat Ki Tavo ,begins by introducing the Mitzvah of Bikkurim .This מצוה entails taking our first fruit and bringing it to the בית המקדש. Interestingly, there is no mandated amount of fruit that must be brought. A farmer is permitted to bring even one fruit (albeit he is certainly encouraged to bring even more), as long as it is from his first crop. While submitting only one fruit from one’s crop may not seem like a big deal, it is crucial to put ourselves in the mindset of this farmer. The farmer has sweated and toiled over his crop for months. He has waited to finally be able to see the fruits of his labor. When finally, the first fruit sprouts, his excitement is palpable; that single fruit is his pride and joy. It is that single fruit which must be brought to the בית המקדש .
This year, we will be focusing on at 50. The theme of this year will be focusing on the ירושלים reunification of and its centrality in our lives. This month in particular, we are focusing on good deeds, and the little things that we can do to make those around us smile. To start the year, we had a school wide learning program. One of the ideas that we learned, is that the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed for Sinat Chinam. In order to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash, we must focus on loving those around us and treating them properly. I think this idea very much connects to the which must be brought ביכורים to ירושלים .There is a משנה that we learn every day after ברכות התורה that lists the that have no minimum requirement. מצוות Amongst those are the מצוות of ביכורים and גמילות חסדים
Perhaps one can argue, that both of these מצוות represent a qualitative action, which although at times may be small, require effort and yield an impact that can be far reaching. Let us begin this year focusing on how we treat one another, and realizing that every small act of kindness, if done sincerely and properly, can have far reaching effects.
Shabbat Shalom, Mr. Josh Rossman
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