When Bnei Yisrael dwell in the Land of Israel, its first fruits are to be taken to the Temple and given to the Kohen in a ceremony expressing recognition that it is Hashem who guides the history of the Jewish People throughout all ages. This passage forms one of the central parts of the Haggadah that we read at the Passover Seder. On the last day of Pesach of the fourth and the seventh years of the seven-year shemitta cycle of tithes, a person must recite a disclosure stating that he has indeed distributed the tithes to the appropriate people in the prescribed manner. With this mitzvah Moshe concludes the commandments that Hashem has told him to give to the Jewish People. Moshe exhorts them to walk in Hashem's ways, because they are set aside as a treasured people to Hashem. When Bnei Yisrael cross the Jordan River they are to make a new commitment to the Torah. Huge stones are to be erected and the Torah is to be written on them in the world's seventy primary languages, after which they are to be covered over with a thin layer of plaster. Half the tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim, and half on Mount Eval, and the levi'im will stand in a valley between the two mountains. There the levi'im will recite 12 commandments and all the people will answer "amen" to the blessings and the curses. Moshe then details the blessings that will be bestowed upon Bnei Yisrael. These blessings are both physical and spiritual. However if the Jewish People do not keep the Torah, Moshe details a chilling picture of destruction, resulting in exile and wandering among the nations.

"When you come to the land.. you shall take from the first of every fruit of the land.. You are to place it in a basket.. and you shall come to the priest.. and he shall place it before the altar of G-d, your G-d." (26:1-4) This passage refers top the mitzvah of bikurim (the "first fruits"). The land of Israel is distinguished by seven species of produce: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. The very first produce of these are to be brought to the kohanim (priests) who serve in the Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple in Jerusalem) as an offering. With this offering of first fruits one expresses gratitude to G-d for all one's blessings, thus performing this mitzvah with great joy. There are two approaches to the performance of a mitzvah: (1) one may do so with but minimal effort and involvement, barely enough to fulfill the obligation; or (2) one may do so with a sense of love and dedication, with full willingness to observe it in the most excelling manner. In this second way, one is fully immersed in the mitzvah to do it with one's most precious possessions. Here lies the uniqueness of the mitzvah of bikurim: the farmer brings to the kohen the choicest product. The very first fruits of man's labor are most precious to him, yet he overcomes his personal desires to offer them to the kohanim.

"It will be when you enter the Land [Eretz Yisrael]." (26:1) QUESTION: The word "vehayah" -- "it will be" -- seems extra? ANSWER: The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh explains that the word "vehayah" denotes happiness. The Torah is teaching that true happiness will take place when the Jewish people are redeemed from exile and through Moshiach Tzidkeinu be brought to Eretz Yisrael. As King David writes, "When G-d will return the exiles of Zion... our mouths will be filled with laughter." (Psalms 126:2)

"You shall inscribe on the stones all the words of this Torah." (27:8) QUESTION: Why on stone and not on any other material? ANSWER: The great sage, Rabbi Akiva, was illiterate up to the age of forty. He once came across a stone and was fascinated by the water that dripped constantly, bearing a hole in the stone. From this he learned that if water can penetrate a hard stone, surely Torah can penetrate his heart of flesh and blood. (Avot DeReb Natan 6) By instructing Moshe to write the Torah on hard stone, G-d implied that even if a person possesses the poorest faculties (a head as hard as a rock), if he learns Torah diligently it will definitely have an effect on him and he will improve.

"But it will be that if you do not hearken to the voice of Hashem...then all the curses will come upon you." (28:15) QUESTION: The word "vehayah" --"it will be" -- seems superfluous and also inappropriate since it is usually used to denote joy and happiness? ANSWER: When the Alter Rebbe lived in Liozna, he was the baal koreh -- reader of the weekly Torah portion -- on Shabbat. Once, he was away for the week of Parshat Ki Tavo, and someone else read in his stead. The Mitteler Rebbe, who was not yet Bar Mitzvah, fainted when the curses were read. After being revived, he was asked why was he so much more affected now than he had been in previous years? He replied: "When my father reads the Torah, one does not hear any curses." The Mitteler Rebbe taught that the maledictions were not the ultimate will of Hashem. On the contrary, He loves His people and wants to shower them with blessings. These curses are only superficial; concealed in them are blessings which the Jewish people will eventually merit. Consequently, the term "vehayah" is appropriately used to emphasize the joy that will be experienced through these berachot.

-King Solomon