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Peninei Yaakov - " Excerpts of a Shmuess given by

Reb Yaakov Akiva Mashinsky ZtlR Feivel Mashinsky

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...(:,"")

' - The Rambam teaches in Hilchos Bikurim that when the Jews brought Bikurim

to Yerushayim they were greeted with this Possuk. Although the Possuk in Tehillim is mentioned in

singular form "(')" , since there were many people bringing Bikurim, therefore it was

expressed in the plural tense. We find a hint in this Possuk to Bikurim, since the words "" have

the same letters as "."

The Sifri teaches us in the beginning of this weeks Parsha that Rabbi Meir would say, Do th is

Mitzva in order to merit entering Eretz Yisroel. Seemingly, the Sifri refers to doing the Mitzva of

Bikurim. We find that difficult because the Mitzva of Bikurim did not begin until the Jews conquered and

settled Eretz Yisroel which was fourteen years after their entry into Eretz Yisroel.

We find many references in the Parsha that Mitzvos must be observed with joy. When one does

the Mitzva of Maaser, he declares: "" - "I did as You commanded me." Rashi explains

that he is saying that I did the mitzvah with joy and I made others happy. This declaration can be

explained to mean that I am doing this Mitzva with Simcha the same way that You commanded me to do

all Mitzvos with Simcha.

Towards the end of the Parsha the Torah tells us the terrible punishment that will be meted out ifone doesn't listen to Hashem. After all the terrible that will befall those who sin, the Torah tells us that

this is because one hasnt served Hashem with happiness. (See Chasam Sofer Vayichi, Rabeinu Bechayei

Naso).

With this understanding in Mitzva observance we can interpret the Sifri. The Gemara (Megilla)

and the Midrash say that the term is used to imply a happy state of mind. The Sifri is referring to

- happiness, do your Mitzvos happily in order to merit entering Eretz Yisroel. Hashem does not want

unhappy and discontent people in Eretz Yisroel.

In our opening statement we brought the words of Rashi based on a Mishna in Mesechta

Bikurim: A man goes down to his field and he sees a fig tree that has ripened ... he proceeds to do the

Mitzva of Bikurim. He brings these first fruit to Yerushalayim and hands them to the Kohein, and by

declaration he expresses his gratitude to Hashem for the land that he was given and all the bounty

thereof. Although the Mitzva of Bikurim applies to all the seven species that Eretz Yisroel is praised for,

we find that Rashi mentions the fig first. A young Talmid of mine (Dovi Silberberg) explained the

Possuk: "" - "You shall take from all the first fruit of the land which

you shall bring from your land " The last words seem superfluous. We know that the spies returned

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from Eretz Yisroel with the fruit of Eretz Yisroel. This can be the explanation of the redundancy. The

Torah is identifying the specie which one must observe the Mitzva of Bikurim by telling us the fruit that

one brings from your land, alluding to the spies who displayed the beauty of these fruits.

One of the main tenets of the creation of the world and humankind is the virtue of being grateful

and displaying gratitude. Although trees and plants came to be on the third day of Creation, rain wasfirst created after man was created. As long as there was no one to pray for rain and thank Hashem for it ,

rain had no purpose. Adam - the first human being who Hashem created - sinned by eating from the Tree

of Knowledge. To add insult upon insult, when asked by Hashem why he violated His commandment,

Adam blamed his wife Chava, faulting Hashem for giving him the woman who caused him to sin.

Instead of showing gratitude to Hashem, he rejected it by being ungrateful. The Mitzva of Bikurim is

given to correct the sin of Adam by expressing our gratitude. Rashi is of the opinion that the Tree of

Knowledge was a fig tree. Now Rashi is illuminated. applies to Adam who had a downfall by

eating from the figs of the Tree of Knowledge and was ungrateful; therefore we observe the Mitzva of

Bikurim primarily with figs in order to show our gratitude to right the wrongdoing of Adam.

That may be the reason why on the second day of Rosh Hashana one eats a fig and recites the

blessing of Shehechiyanu. Adam was created on Rosh Hashana, sinned on Rosh Hashana, and received

his punishment - the decree of death - on Rosh Hashana. In order to correct the sin of Adam who ate from

the figs of the Tree of Knowledge, we make a blessing on that same fruit thanking Hashem for all His

kindness. The blessing that we recite is Shehecheyanu, which means that He allowed us to live and

sustained us and brought us to this day. Although Adam was decreed death for his lack of appreciation,

we are showing gratefulness for all His bounty.

Happiness is a display of content and appreciation. The reverse is a sign of discontent and

ungratefulness. The Torah begins the Parsha with the word "" , symbolizing happiness and joy - the

most integral part of the Mitzva of Bikurim, which displays appreciation.

This shiurwas delivered to talmidim of Yeshiva Ohr Someach. The full shiurcan be downloaded at

torahanytime.com, or it can be heard on Kol Haloshon at 718-906-6400 press 1, then 1, then 34.

For comments, suggestions or to be added to the list please contact me atpenineiyaakov@gmail.com

mailto:penineiyaakov@gmail.commailto:penineiyaakov@gmail.commailto:penineiyaakov@gmail.commailto:penineiyaakov@gmail.com