Parshat Ki Savo 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha the mitzvah of Bikurim, bringing the first fruits of the seven species to the Kohen in the Beis Hamikdash in Yerushalayim. Part of the mitzvah of Bikurim is making a statement of gratitude to Hashem and reviewing the historical events which eventually brought Bnei Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael. This statement begins with the words (Chapter 26, Pasuk 3), Higadeti Hayom L'Hashem Elokecha Ki Basi el Ha'Aretz Asher Nishba Hashem La'Avoseinu Lases Lanu. I have stated today to Hashem that I came to the land that Hashem promised to our forefathers.
Rav Tzadok HaKohen asks, how can this statement begin with the words Higadeti Hayom, I have stated today, when he hasn't begun speaking yet. He is first beginning his statement and he is telling us what he already said!
We say everyday in the second parsha of Keriyas Shema, V'Haya Im Shamo'a Tishmeu el Mitzvosai, if you keep the mitzvos of the Torah then I will reward you with bounty which culminates with the bracha of (Chapter 11, Pasuk 15), V'Achalta V'Savata, you shall eat and be satiated. But immediately afterwards the Torah warns us that this state of satiation and satisfaction should not lead us to forget Hashem and His Torah. We have a similar warning earlier in the same parsha. By the mitzvah of Birkas Hamazon the Torah states (Chapter 8, Pasuk 10), V'Achalta V'Savata and then immediately afterwards we read Hishamer Lecha Pen Tishkach es Hashem Elokecha. Be careful and make sure that your state of satiation doesn't allow you to forget Hashem. And we read a few pasukim later (Pasuk 14), V'Ram Levavecha V'Shachachta, lest you become haughty and forget. We see from these two parshiyot that having success and bounty can lead one to a state of arrogance and forgetting that everything comes from Hashem.
Yet when we say Birkas Hamazon itself, when we are in that state of satiation the Torah warns us about, there is no warning reminding us not to forget where our bracha comes from. The pasukim warning us to remember the source of bracha are omitted from the text of Birkas Hamazon. Rav Tzadok explains that there is no need to include the warning to remember Hashem when a Jew is sitting down to bentch. The fact that he remembers to bless Gd and thank Him after eating indicates that he knows exactly where his bounty is coming from. No reminder is necessary.
Similarly, when a Jew walks into the Beis Hamikdash and brings his Bikurim, it's a tremendous statement. As soon as he saw his fruit growing, he set aside the very first fruits and he came to Yerushalayim in order to bring them to Hashem, back to the source of all bracha. And the Torah requires him to make a statement, as the pasuk says (Chapter 26, Pasuk 3)V'Anisa V'Amarta, and Rashi comments, She'Eiyncha Kafuy Tovah, you must verbally express your gratitude and show you don't deny the good you are receiving. But when he actually starts to speak, he begins with the words Higadeti Hayom, he begins by saying I have already spoken; for just coming here with my first fruits is a significant statement. By virtue of being here to perform the mitzvah indicates my speech has already begun. Higadeti Hayom, I have spoken today.
The parsha ends with the words (Chapter 26, Pasuk 11), V'Samachta Bechol Hatov. When a person brings his Bikurim he ends up rejoicing in all the good. As we mentioned, eating and becoming satiated can lead one to forget Hashem. Eating is a very physical act in which the yetzer hara is very strong. But when one uses his food for mitzvos, for Bikurim or for Birkas Hamazon, then the physical act is transformed from being infused with the yetzer hara to one which is totally tov. The final pasuk in the mitzvah of Bikurim expresses that Bikurim clarifies for us that we need to use everything in the world in order to serve Hashem better. And when we accomplish that, we remove the yetzer hara and we achieve the promise of V'Samachta Bechol Hatov.
Good Shabbos
