Parshas Ki Tavo

You crane your neck, trying to see past the crowd of blacksmiths and merchants as flutes pierce the air, their notes whirling through the celebration. Who could warrant such a grand procession? Your eyes focus on an ox with golden horns entering your view. One voice, then another, then everyone shouting, “Our brothers, we welcome you in peace.” As the ox comes fully into view, you see the mysterious travelers. A king? A wise man? A healer? But no, it is a simple group of farmers, holding baskets of fruit adorned with ribbons and greenery, their faces bright with quiet pride amidst the clamorous celebration surrounding them.

So, who could those farmers possibly be and what makes them so special, to warrant such honor?

There is a short description of a mitzvah (commandment) in this week’s Torah Portion, Ki Savo, called Bikkurim, or “first fruits”. Essentially the requirement is for every farmer to take the first fruits of the season and travel up to the Temple in Jerusalem and give them as an offering of gratitude to Hashem. The Mishnah in tractate Bikkurim describes the above scene was what was waiting for the farmers when they reached Jerusalem. The townsfolk and artisans would camp outside in anticipation for their arrival and when the farmers came the next day, they would greet them with honor fit for a king.

But why was this communal celebration necessary for a simple show of gratitude? The answer lies in the value of communal action. When an individual does a positive action, whether it be gratitude, kindness, or prayer, their only source for drive and inspiration comes from within. They pull on their inner strength and strength of character but are limited to their own potential. But when a community comes together to shine as one, to take a stand and say, “we as a community cherish this value”, we use each other as a springboard to reach the unimaginable heights that can only come from growth as a greater family.

We are starting to plant the first seeds of our new Sarasota community. Let us remember the lesson of the Bikkurim, and as the fruits of our community begin to sprout, we work together to stand for Torah values as a united one to produce those fruits and offer them to Hashem in joy and song. Good Shabbos!