rnix , rnr)
Is this the year
you promised yourself
you would finally
learn Hebrew?
OPEN HOUSE
FOR FALL ADULT HEBREW CLASSES
Monday, August 29 • 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Meet our teachers and see which class is best for you.
We offer day and night classes in
Hebrew reading, conversation, and literature,
on many levels, from beginner to advanced.
Come to our Open House and find out more!
21550 West 12 Mile Road in Southfield • 354-1050
• Midrasha Center for Adult Jewish Learning •
a division of the Agency for Jewish Education
A RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS ON A QUEST FOR JEWISH KNOWLEDGE
w
Cr)
H E DETRO I T
w
S outhfield, MI 48075
.6644
To oh Portion
Its Not The Gift,
It's The Timing
RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
wise man once said: "The
secret of meaningful
living is to 'put first things
first.' " By this he meant
that one must have a proper scale
of priorities in life. This appears
to be excellent advise until one
has to decide what to put first.
One person puts money first, an-
other fame, another power or the
pursuit of pleasure. Indeed, 'put
first things first', but what scale
of values should we employ?
The answer to this question is
found in the juxtaposition of two
mitzvot described in this week's
Torah portion. The first is the cer-
emony of bikhurim, where the in-
dividual who owned fruit trees in
Israel was obliged to bring his
first ripe fruits to the Temple in
Jerusalem.
The Mishnah describes in
minute detail and picturesque
prose how these fruits were gath-
ered, packed, and carried on the
shoulders of the pilgrims all the
way to the Holy City. It then in-
forms us that they were greeted
by the digthtaries of the city with
music and songs and testimoni-
al speeches (Bikhurim 3:3,4).
Viewing this ceremony and the
accompanying praise and recog-
nition, an observer might pre-
sume that extensive and
generous offerings had been
made. He would be surprised to
learn that Jewish law does not
stipulate the exact quantity to be
given as bikhurim. Indeed, the
first fruits are included among
the items that ein lahem shiyur,
that have no limits or parame-
ters. One might observe this mitz-
vah by giving anything — one
cluster of grapes, a few dates or
olives for an entire orchard could
be sufficient.
There was another contribu-
tion — also mentioned in our se-
drah — that the Jew was obliged
to give, that represented a sub-
stantial part of his income. That
was maaser (tithe). Ten percent
of one's harvest went to the
Levite, and periodically, 10 per-
cent to the poor. But maaser was
given quietly, without pageantry,
fanfare or testimonials. No spe-
cial tribute was paid to the
farmer for his generous contri-
bution, and no music was played
in his honor.
Why did the bringing of the
first ripe fruits kindle the imag-
ination of all, while the giving of
tithes was passed over without
notice?
The answer is in the "timing"
— of leaning how to 'put first
things first' in life. Picture the
farmer tilling his land, pruning
A
his trees, lighting his fires to pro-
tect the orchards from the frost.
Finally, after months of anxiety
and toil, he beholds the first rip
fruit. What joy floods his heart!
How he would like to taste the
fruits of his labor. But no — the
first fruits are not his — they are
designated for the Temple, for
God. So he takes the first fruit
and calls it bikhurim. He then
takes the first fruit to Jerusalem,
where special tribute is paid to
him for his strength of character
and devotion to God.
Shabbat Ki Tavo:
Deuteronomy
26:1-29:8
lsaih 60:1-22.
Maaser, on the other hand, was
given much later. At the conclu-
sion of the harvest, when all of the
produce was safely stored in the
granaries, the tithe was first giv-
en. Giving it at so late a date,
when the storehouses are over-
flowing, does not deserve special
recognition or tribute. Yes, it is a
duty performed in accordance
with the law, but nothing more.
The difference between the
bikhurim and maaser lies in the
fact that with the bikhurim is
was not the gift but the idea be-
hind the gift that warranted such
emphasis. It is not always how
much one gives that is crucial,
but when and how.
When a Jew devotes his ener-
gies and talents to his people and
his religion when he is in the
prime of life that is bikhurim; but
when he waits for the twilight of
life first to become active in Jew-
ish life, that is maaser.
Alas, many adopt this maaser-
type philosophy early in life and
live altogether in the future. I
will study Torah — when I retire.
I will attend services — when I
have more leisure time. I will give
tzedakah — when I make a
"killing in the market."
There is just one thing wrong
with this very human propensi-
ty towards procrastination: Who
knows if there will be a future?
The sage Hillel underscored this
thought so well with his famous
teaching, "If not now, when?"
(Pirkei Avot 1:14). If something
in life should be done, it should
be done now.
This is the importance of
bikhurim, not its gift, which was
often minute, but its lesson, which