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Parshat Ki Tavo

By: SFW Students & Alumna
Esty Rollhaus, SFW 5767

Parshat Ki Tavo

(Based on YU Torah Online- Anayim L’Torah Series- Mordechai Gershon)

Parshat Ki Tavo starts off with the mitzvah of bringing bikurim. After receiving and dividing up the land of Israel, the Jews must bring the first of their fruits to the Kohen in the mishkan. The Jews must formally thank Hashem for bestowing upon them the gift of Eretz Yisrael. It seems very understandable that an agricultural mitzvah should be the expression of our appreciation for receiving Eretz Yisrael. 

It is the cryptic phrase, “arami oved avi,”an Aramean tried to destroy my father, that hints to a deeper meaning to this mitzvah. The passage is really a history lesson. Lavan tried to kill Yaakov. Yaakov went down to mitzrayim and became a great nation. The Egyptians oppressed the nation until they cried out to Hashem for salvation. Hashem, in turn, took them of out of Egypt and brought them to the “land of milk and honey.”  In recognition, they performed the mitzvah of bikurim proclaiming, “I have brought the first fruit of the ground that You have given me, O Hashem!” (Dev. 26:10).

This passage is very enigmatic. Why doesn’t it suffice to thank Hashem for bringing Bnei Yisrael to the land?  Why must the summary of Jewish history be spelled out? Additionally, this paragraph is also recited at the Pesach seder. What is the connection between giving bikurim and Pesach?

To answer these questions, we must delve into the true meaning of “arami oved avi.”  The phrase literally means, “an Aramean destroyed my father.” The passage refers to Lavan, who tried to kill Yaakov.  The Ritva, in his commentary on the Haggadah, explains that although Lavan did not succeed in killing Yaakov, the pasuk considers it as though he did. This is furthered by the Talmud Yerushalmi (Peah 1:1) that explicates that the intentions of the evil are considered carried out. Yaakov had everything working against him in Lavan’s house, except, of course, Hashem. Hashem impeded Lavan’s plans and saved Yaakov from the atmosphere of Lavan’s house. Yaakov left with many belongings and a large family. The story sounds familiar, doesn’t it?  “Ma’aseh Avot Siman L’Banim.” Bnei Yisrael were enslaved in Egypt amidst dire physical and spiritual conditions. Pharoh intended to wipe them out. Hashem, however, had other plans.  Bnei Yisrael left Egypt with lots of material possessions and a great national identity.

“Arami oved avi” is read at the seder to remind us of all that Hashem has done for us and continues to do for us.  “In every generation an enemy arises to destroy us, but Hashem saves us from their hands.” No matter what the Jewish people face, we can be assured by the phenomenal occurrences in our past that Hashem will ultimately redeem us.

That is precisely the message of bikurim.  Hashem not only saved us from our enemies and gave us great prosperity, He brought us to Eretz Yisroel.  As we stand before Hashem and give of his first fruits in a display of appreciation, we must recognize where we came from. No matter how bleak the situation appears, we must keep in mind that Hashem ultimately will redeem us and bring us prosperity in Eretz Yisroel,  May we all merit the redemption.

Shabbat Shalom.