The Parsha talks about the mitzvah of bikurim (giving the first fruits of the land) and the Bracha one should say while doing this mitzvah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe finds it interesting that the Bracha singles out two Mitzvos - Ya’akov’s escape from Lavan and Yitzias Mitzrayim. Why are these singled out? The Rebbe answers (adapted by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks) that these miracles had a special connection to Bikurim, and it analyses the importance of this offering and it’s corresponding function in our own time.
Why else would these miracles in specific be mentioned?
The ARI tells us that the mitzvah of Bikurim is the repair for the cheit hamiraglim. The bracha we recite helps us focus our thoughts in a particular direction. We mention these miracles specifically because they help us identify ourselves with our Jewish Heritage and announce that the security of Eretz Yisrael is in G-d’s plans for Bnei Yisrael.
ReplyDelete-Gabrielle
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ReplyDeleteRabbi Yehoshua Berman, in an article on Aish.com, explains that Egypt and Lavan serve as a reminder to us that without Hashem we wouldn’t exist to produce the fruit that Bnai Yisroel offered as bikurim. Hashem was the one who ultimately saved us from Egypt and from Lavan’s house. Bnei Yisroel wouldn’t be able to live the successful and happy lives without God. Bnei Yisroel brought the bikurim and mention Egpyt and Lavan to acknowledge and thank God for helping them succeed in the land.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aish.com/tp/i/reflections/323429141.html
According to Chabad.org, the mitzvah of bikkurim only began once we were settle in Eretz Yisrael. Because of this, we thank Hashem for receiving the land and for the ability to live there in peace. Because of this, we mention two other times where we lived permananetly for a significant amount of time.
ReplyDeleteRabbi shraga Simmons (aish.com) explains that these are all declarations of gratitude. It is easy to understand that bikkurim is a declaration of gratitude but how is saying that Lavan tried to destroy my father, and suffering in Egypt a declaration of gratitude? We need to look at the bigger picture. If lavan never switched Rachel and Leah under the chuppah then yoseph would have been first born. If yoseph was first born he wouldn't have been favored and his brothers wouldn't have sold him. He wouldn't have ended up as the prime minister of Egypt and would not have been there to save the Jews from the famine years later. If you look at the bigger picture you can turn any tragedy in life into somthjbg to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteLeiba Chaya David (mytorahlearning.com) explains that these two miracles are mentioned in this bracha for Jewish farmers to relate to the journey of their ancestors. Eretz yiroel represents the culmination of this long journey. Speaking of these two miracles in this tfilla reflects the spiritual journey of self-reliance, to reliance on Hashem. When planting, especially in Eretz Yisroel, farmers must heavily trust and believe that Hashem will help them with the production of their crops (by bringing rain..). This causes them to live in a constant state of appreciation. I like this interpretation because I think that it is a true neis that Hakadosh Baruch Hu does all of the time. The Middle East is an extremely dry place which makes it a very hard environment for crops to successfully grow. Mentioning these miracles in the bracha can help remind farmers to appreciate Hashems help and miracles that he does for them (their crops...livelihood) each and every day.
ReplyDeleteNechama Leibowitz quotes Abravanel: the reason we bring Bikurim is to humble a man selfish passions. Since the first fruits are the first treasures of a farmer, Hashem commanded us to fight the instinct to eat the first fruit, and rather dedicate them to Hashem. Another mifaresh (unclear in the book) says that in "exchange" for coming into Eretz Israel, the farmer gratefully brings Hashem his first fruits. I find this idea to be quite beautiful, on many levels. First: it shows us that we aren't as extraordinary as we think - Hashem is th master behind all. Second: Our entire life we have to give back to Hashem for all he gave us. By giving the fruits we are showing that something we value so much is nothing compared to Avodath Hashem. Lastly: A someone who is passionate about hard work and doing things on your own, I find it eye-opening that we always have to think about Hashem instead of ourselves even in the smallest of instances.
ReplyDeleteChad.org says only after we settled in Israel did we begin Bikkurim, so then we thank Hashem for letting us live peacefully. It then mentions two other periods of time that we were given the same gift.
ReplyDeleteLiat Silver:
ReplyDeleteThe words of Mikra Bikurim are the ones we read in the Hagadah as our way of retelling the story of the miracle of yitziat miztrayim. Many commentators have asked (including R. Menachem Liebtag) Why would the Rabbis chose the Bikurim words to retell a story that is in Chumash in Sefer Shemot? ?It seems that the beginning of the first chapter of the Jewish galut experience began with Yaakov being sent away to Lavan. That first Galut technically continued for Yaakov's immediate family through Egypt. That's why it's in the Hagadah as the short version of the entire Yitziat Mitzrayim miracle and on Pesach we show our gratitude for these two miracles that are really part of the same one the same they did when they brought Bikurim.