Drash on Ki Tavo 2024

Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio OAM

Emanuel Synagogue

Ki Tavo begins with the bringing of the first fruits to the Temple. It says that when we reach the land, each person must bring their first fruits to the Temple and recite a special formula to show our gratitude and to acknowledge our history. Everyone is required to come, in person: no-one can send an emissary or a shaliach, they must personally be there. Interestingly, the community then was like it is now, with people each having different levels of knowledge and understanding of tradition, each having a different way of connecting and different abilities. There was concern that people may not come if they felt they could not recite the formula, so the priest stood with everyone, said the words and the person repeated them. No matter who you were, the priest spoke and you repeated, thus ensuring nobody would be singled out as different because of their level of knowledge.

The ritual for bringing the fruits was magnificent and filled with pagentry. Everyone from their village would gather the night before, with their baskets of fruit lovingly prepared. The baskets ranged from magnificent silver and gold, to simple ones woven from reeds. In the morning, the leader of the group would call for everyone to arise and the procession to the Temple began. Oxen with golden horns, adorned with the seven species of Israel led the procession. Flutes played, people recited psalms as they danced into the Temple grounds. Once there, they were greeted with words of welcome: “our community, from the city of …. come in peace” Each person would then ascend the altar and repeat the words after the priest, ensuring that no matter who you were, no matter your level of knowledge, you would not be shamed or treated differently. After the ceremony, the farmers remained overnight in Jerusalem and then headed home.

Can you imagine the joy, celebration, the blessing of being together in community? Everyone physically present, experiencing the gratitude for having fruits to deliver and for which to give thanks. Farming can be solitary work but when it came time to acknowledge, to recognise the blessing, it was done in person, arm in arm with their fellow travellers. It was important for each person to step out of their daily routine, to see the goodness and to pause in humility and grace. And to connect with each other.

Rabbi Sharon Brous in her new book “The Amen Effect” speaks about how powerful it is when we are there for one another in community. That we stand, shoulder to shoulder and say amen to each other’s prayer, that we are not alone, in our rejoicing or in our grief. For this reason, the mourner’s kaddish requires a minyan. Not to make it difficult to cater afterwards, not to cause challenges but because nobody saying mourner’s kaddish should say it alone. Judaism is about being there for one another, as Rabbi Brous’ grandmother said, it’s about showing up.” The ritual of the first fruits was about showing up. When we are physically there, present, the power of the ritual becomes even greater. Judaism teaches us to show up, for ourselves, and for others. When we are there, we can ensure that we are seen and others are seen beside us. We step outside of the ordinary and experience the extraordinary when we do so with others.

So now as we enter the High Holyday period, a time when there are many opportunities to be like our ancestors. We may feel ill equipped like many of them to traverse the prayerbook, grapple with the Hebrew text, we may feel like we don’t know enough, we aren’t enough. The ritual of the first fruits reminds us that we are all different, and we are all enough, that what God wants from us is to show up. Just to be there. And by being present, whether that is in person, or online for those who can’t be there physically, we are with community, we can feel the power of the season and of being part of something greater than ourselves.