Ilustration Credit: Chaim File
Mishnah מִשְׁנָה
If you were a farmer at the time of the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (Beit HaMikdash, Holy Temple), Shavuot was the beginning of the time when you would bring the בִּכּוּרִים (bikkurim, first fruits) of your harvest to the Beit HaMikdash. The Mishnah (Bikkurim chapter 3) says you would do this in a major parade every year!
You’d begin by joining a massive camp-out:
כֵּיצַד מַעֲלִין אֶת הַבִּכּוּרִים?
כָּל הַעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁבַּמַּעֲמָד מִתְכַּנְּסוֹת לָעִיר שֶׁל מַעֲמָד,
וְלָנִין בִּרְחוֹבָהּ שֶׁל עִיר.
How were the bikkurim brought up to Yerushalayim?
Everyone who lived in the towns of one regional group gathered together in their main city. They all spent the night in the open street.
Then your group would make its way to Yerushalayim. You’d enjoy musical accompaniment and fancy decorations:
וְהַשּׁוֹר הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְקַרְנִיו מְצֻפּוֹת זָהָב, וַעֲטָרָה שֶׁל זַּיִּת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ.
הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵיהֶם,
עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעִים קָרוֹב לְירוּשָׁלַיִם.
הִגִּיעוּ קָרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, שָׁלְחוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְעִטְּרוּ אֶת בִּכּוּרֵיהֶם.
הַפַּחוֹת, הַסְּגָנִים וְהַגִּזְבָּרִים יוֹצְאִים לִקְרָאתָם… וְכָל בַּעֲלֵי אֻמָּנִיּוֹת שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם עוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵיהֶם וְשׁוֹאֲלִין בִּשְׁלוֹמָם, אַחֵינוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, בָּאתֶם לְשָׁלוֹם
An ox led the way, and its horns were covered with gold, and it had an olive-crown on its head.
A flute played before them until they came close to Yerushalayim.
When they came close to Yerushalayim, they sent messengers, and they decorated their bikkurim with crowns.
The governors and chiefs and treasurers (of the Beit HaMikdash) came out to greet them.… All the artists of Yerushalayim would stand before them and ask how they are, saying, “Our siblings from such-and-such place, we welcome you in peace!”
Even the king might come out to greet you!
הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵיהֶם, עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעִין לְהַר הַבַּיִת.
הִגִּיעוּ לְהַר הַבַּיִת, אֲפִלּוּ אַגְרִיפַּס הַמֶּלֶךְ נוֹטֵל הַסַּל עַל כְּתֵפוֹ וְנִכְנָס, עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לָעֲזָרָה.
הִגִּיעַ לָעֲזָרָה וְדִבְּרוּ הַלְוִיִּם בְּשִׁיר:
"אֲרוֹמִמְךָ ה' כִּי דִלִּיתָנִי" (תהלים ל).
The flute played before them, until they reached the Temple Mount.
When they reached the Temple Mount, even King Agrippas would take a basket and place it on his shoulder and walk as far as the Temple Court.
When they got to the Temple Court, the Levi’im sang: “I will raise You up, God, for You have lifted me” (Tehillim 30).
- Can you imagine growing fruit, and then carrying it at the center of a parade, and then being crowned and having a king come out to meet you? How would this make you feel?
- Not every mitzvah gets a parade with music, crowns, animals, governors, and kings! Why does bikkurim? What’s so special about this particular mitzvah?
- You didn’t have to be a scholar or an accomplished person to bring bikkurim. Anyone could do it. What does this teach you about the value of other simple mitzvot that anyone can do?
- Do you have a garden? Have you ever grown anything? How would it feel to thank God for the fruit or vegetables you’re able to grow?
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