Parashat Ki Tavo begins with the mitzvah of bikkurim. A person comes to Eretz Yisrael, settles the land, works his fields and sees the fruits of his labor. דווקא then, at the moment of success, the Torah tells him to stop and bring the first fruits to Yerushalayim:

“וְהָיָה כִּי תָבוֹא אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר ה’ אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בָהּ. וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה…” (Devarim 26:1–2)

Because success can make a person forget where that success came from.

A person works hard and sees results. It is easy to think, “I did this.” The Torah reminds him that the land, the blessing and the strength to succeed were all given by Hashem.

“וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת ה’ אֱלֹקֶיךָ כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל.” (Devarim 8:18)

The Torah does not tell us to sit back. We are expected to work, achieve, build and lead. But we must never forget Who gave us the ability to do so.

That is why the bikkurim are “מֵרֵאשִׁית”. We give from the beginning, not only from what is left over. At the very moment of success, we recognize its Source. This applies not only to an individual, but also to Klal Yisrael and especially to those who carry public responsibility. Leadership is a pikadon, a trust. Position and influence are not personal possessions. They are given to a person for a purpose — to strengthen Torah, yiras Shamayim, justice, chesed and responsibility.

This leads to a simple question: What are we building? Later in the parashah, at Har Gerizim and Har Eival, Moshe Rabbeinu commands Bnei Yisrael to establish the words of the........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)