Ki Savo

The beginning of this Parsha speaks about the mitzvah of bikurim.  The Mishna in Bikurim teaches that rich people would bring their bikurim in beautiful silver and gold baskets.  The poor people would bring their bikurim in baskets of arava (willow) wood, which was cheaper and not as nice.

The Tosfos Yom Tov asks: we find in Mo’ed Katan that originally the rich would bring food for mourners in gold and silver baskets, while the poor would use baskets of arava wood.  The Gemara says that because the poor people were embarrassed the Chachomim said that everyone should use baskets of arava wood when bringing food to mourners.  If so, asks the Tosfos Yom Tov, why weren’t they misaken the same thing by bikurim, that all should bring the simple arava baskets?

The Tosfos Yom Tov answers that because of the great honor of Hashem and the Beis HaMikdash, the Chachomim felt it was improper to be mivatel this way of bringing bikurim.  Also, the Kohanim kept the baskets of the poor, while the baskets of the rich were returned.  This consoled the poor; for their gifts were so special that they were accepted to the Beis HaMikdash.

אבי מורי שליט”א told me another beautiful answer: one  who brought bikurim needed to say out loud about Yaakov and Lavan, how we went to Mitzrayim, Hashem took us out, brought us to Eretz Yisroel, and gave us the land.  We need to recognize and give thanks that everything we have is from Hashem.  This is done by giving the first fruits to the Kohen in the Beis HaMikdash.  Therefore, there is no reason for the rich not to bring gold and silver baskets.  For all, rich and poor alike, realize that everything is from Hashem and not our own power and strength; that what we have is what we are supposed to have.  There is no room for jealousy, ill feeling, or embarrassment.  That is why by bikurim the rich could bring expensive baskets!

May Hashem help us recognize that everything we have is from Him and express our appropriate appreciation!