Parshas Ki Savo 5766

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

---

The people were instructed in the mitzvah of bikkurim, the bringing of the new fruits each season to the kohen in the Beis HaMikdash (Temple). When the first fruits of Israel’s seven species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, dates, olives and pomegranates) would begin to blossom, the farmer would mark them by tying a ribbon around them. Later, when the fruits ripened, they were decorated in beautiful baskets and brought to Jerusalem amidst great fanfare and joy. The Talmud describes how the people would travel together in large groups accompanied by musicians, and how all the inhabitants of Jerusalem would greet them.

The farmer gave the fruits to the kohen and placed them next to the altar. He would recite a paragraph expressing appreciation to G-d for His involvement with the Jewish people from the very beginning of their nationhood. >From early on, G-d had saved Jacob from the evil plans of Laban. Later He delivered the nation from the oppression of Egypt, and brought them to the Land of Israel. As a token of appreciation for all of G-d’s kindness, the person brings the first fruits of his labor, that which is closest to his heart, as a gift to G-d.

The first fruits arouse a sense of appreciation within a person. This, in turn, allows a person to reflect upon all the other good that he has received, and offer thanksgiving for that too. When a person suffers a setback, it is very difficult to even imagine the positive things in his life, because he is so consumed with his present difficulties. When one is enjoying the good things in life, though, he can begin to appreciate earlier things that, at the time, seemed to be negative experiences.

Later in the portion, the flip side of this attitude is seen quite clearly. Moshe warned the people of the dire consequences they would face if they failed to follow the Torah properly. Many terrible punishments are portrayed graphically. At the culmination of the many curses mentioned, the Torah warns that, “In the morning you will say ‘If only it were last evening’, and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning again.’”

If a person does not appreciate the kindness G-d shows him, the Torah promises that he will find himself in such difficult straits, he will only be able to look longingly at the earlier times that had passed unappreciated.

“We cried to G-d...and He heard our voices” (Deut. 26:7)

The Steipler Rav’s grandson told his grandfather that he would be visiting the Kotel. The Steipler asked the young man to please pray for him.

“Does my grandfather need my prayers to assist him?” the grandson asked.

The Steipler replied, “G-d created the world in such a way that prayer helps. It doesn’t matter who prays for whom, every prayer accomplishes something. And if it doesn’t help today, it might help tomorrow, or maybe even ten years from now! A person must never give up on prayer. Even if one cannot tell that the prayer helped, perhaps the situation could have been worse without prayer.”

Did You Know...

It is customary to eat various fruits and foods the first night of Rosh Hashana, to symbolize a good year. These foods should be eaten after Hamotzi is said on the bread.

The blessing should first be recited on a fruit of the seven species of Israel, such as pomegranate or dates. After tasting the fruit, a little prayer requesting a good year is recited. The other foods do not require a blessing, and the prayer is recited before eating them.

If a new fruit is eaten for the first time that season, the blessing Shehechiyanu is recited. It is best to have the fruit in mind when reciting the Shehechiyanu during Kiddush, and then eat the fruit after drinking the kiddush, before reciting the Hamotzi.