The Bigger
Picture
This week's Parsha, Ki
Savo, discusses the
concept of Bikkurim, the
First Fruits offering.
The Parsha explains the
commandment to bring an
offering of the 'first
fruits' which the land
yielded, on entering and
settling in the Land of
Israel.
There are two opinions
in the teachings of our
Sages concerning this
Commandment. The Sifri,
a commentary on the
Chumash, maintains that
every individual is
required to bring the
Bikkurim offering as
soon as they enter the
Land of Israel.
The Talmud, on the other
hand, maintains that the
obligation only applies
once all of the Jewish
people are living in the
Land. The reason for the
Talmud's reasoning is
that the Bikkurim
offering is connected
with simcha (happiness)
which, the Talmud
maintains, can only
truly occur when
everyone has reached a
state of being settled,
not just one individual.
These two approaches are
not in contradiction. On
the one hand, each of us
needs to function as an
individual and to reach
our own personal
potential. On the other
hand, we cannot be
oblivious to those
around us. We also need
to reach our potential
on a collective,
communal level. Without
this collective
achievement, we cannot
achieve total happiness
and fulfilment.
Just as a piece of
complex machinery cannot
function if even a small
part is missing, the
Jewish people are not a
collection of
independent entities,
but rather a 'komah
shleima' - a complete
structure which requires
each and every one of us
to be intact in order to
function. This is why we
need to be concerned for
the entirety of the
Jewish people and why
true happiness can come
only when everyone is
settled and fulfilled.
This week marks the 18th
day of Ellul, known
commonly as 'Chai Ellul'
(Chai meaning 18 and
also meaning life.) This
day marks the birthday
of the Baal Shem Tov,
the founder of the
Chassidic Movement and
whose philosophy greatly
emphasises the idea of
'Ahavas Yisroel' - of
loving one's fellow and
of being responsible for
each and every member of
the community, wherever
they may be.
We, too, need to
remember each and every
person, wherever they
may be. Our personal
achievements are
enhanced by concern for
the wider community;
conversely, without such
concern for others, our
own achievements become
virtually worthless.
The Baal Shem Tov said
that every Mitzvah we
do, every commandment we
fulfill, must be
permeated with the
overriding Mitzvah of
Ahavas Yisroel, of Love
for One's Fellow. This
is not always easy to
achieve and it presents
quite a challenge to
work out how to apply
it. Some Mitzvot are
obvious - inviting a
guest to join us for a
Shabbat meal, or helping
somebody in need. Others
are less obvious. The
challenge for each and
every one of us, to
ensure that our lives
and our actions are
permeated with a sense
of communal
responsibility, of love
for another, is an
appropriate one all-year
round. How much more so
in Ellul, just before
Rosh Hashanah, the New
Year, when our thoughts
turn to our own
achievements and our
communal achievements
over the past year, and
we seek to improve on
what we did last year.
May we all fulfill our
potential, individually
and collectively, in the
coming year and merit
only peace, happiness
and prosperity for all.
Shabbat Shalom