Rishon
- Bikurim:
- When you enter Eretz Yisrael and settle in the land, you shall take all the first fruits of the land in a basket to the area that Hashem chose to dwell [i.e. Jerusalem] and bring it to the Kohen. The Kohen is to take the basket and place it before the altar of Hashem.
- The declaration of the pilgrim: He is to declare before the Kohen “An Aramean would have destroyed my father and we descended to Egypt few in number and then became a great nation. The Egyptians enslaved our ancestors and afflicted us with hard labor. We screamed to Hashem our G-d and Hashem saw our suffering and heard our screams. He took us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with miracles and wonders and brought us to this land, a land of milk and honey. Now, I have brought the first fruits of the land which Hashem has given me.” You shall place it before Hashem and bow to Him. You shall rejoice with all the good that Hashem has granted you, you and the Levite and convert amongst you.
Q&A on Rashi
Parsha Bee – Devarim 26:1–11 (Rashi)
- When did the obligation of Bikkurim begin?
Answer: Only after the Jewish people conquered and divided the Land of Israel. - Which fruits are obligated in Bikkurim?
Answer: The Seven Species. - What are the Seven Species?
Answer: Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. - What kind of olives are referred to as “oil-producing olives”?
Answer: Superior olives that keep their oil gathered inside them. - What does “honey” refer to?
Answer: Date honey. - How does a farmer designate Bikkurim?
Answer: He ties a reed around the first ripe fruit and declares it Bikkurim. - What does “the kohen who will be in those days” teach?
Answer: You must honor the kohen of your own generation. - What message is expressed in the Bikkurim declaration?
Answer: Gratitude to Hashem and avoidance of ingratitude. - What does “I declare this day” teach?
Answer: The declaration is recited once each year. - Why does the kohen take the basket?
Answer: To perform the waving ceremony. - How is the waving done?
Answer: The kohen places his hand beneath the owner’s hand and they wave together. - What does “And you shall call out” mean?
Answer: To raise one’s voice. - Who is the Aramean who sought to destroy our forefather?
Answer: Lavan. - Who is “my forefather”?
Answer: Yaakov Avinu. - Why is Lavan’s sin considered so severe?
Answer: Because he intended to destroy the entire Jewish people. - How many people went down to Egypt with Yaakov?
Answer: Seventy. - What does “He brought us to this place” refer to?
Answer: The Beit HaMikdash. - What does “this land” refer to?
Answer: The Land of Israel. - Why is the basket placed before Hashem a second time?
Answer: Because there were two waving ceremonies. - During what period is the Bikkurim declaration recited?
Answer: From Shavuot until Sukkot. - Why specifically during that time?
Answer: It is the season of rejoicing over the harvest. - Can Bikkurim be brought after Sukkot?
Answer: Yes, but the declaration is not recited. - Is a Levi obligated in Bikkurim?
Answer: Yes, if he planted trees in the Levitical cities. - Does a convert bring Bikkurim?
Answer: Yes. - Does a convert recite the declaration?
Answer: No. - Why doesn’t a convert recite the declaration?
Answer: Because he cannot say, “the land which Hashem swore to our forefathers to give us.” - What does “with a small number of people” refer to?
Answer: The seventy souls who descended to Egypt. - What is the purpose of recounting Jewish history in the Bikkurim declaration?
Answer: To recognize Hashem’s kindness throughout Jewish history. - According to Rashi, what does ×•×˘× ×™×Ş mean?
Answer: Speaking in a raised voice. - What is the main theme of the mitzvah of Bikkurim?
Answer: Gratitude to Hashem for the Land and its produce.
Bonus: What was Lavan trying to uproot?
Answer: The entire Jewish nation through Yaakov and his descendants.