Ki Tavo 

כי תבוא

Parashat Ki Tavo opens with the mitzva of first fruits. An individual takes the fruits that grew first and brings them to the Temple. There, he is obligated to thank God for His acts of kindness in the past and in the present. The Sages describe the impressive ceremony of the bringing of the first fruits up to Jerusalem.

How does one designate first fruits? He goes down into his field and sees a fig that has begun to grow, a cluster of grapes that has begun to grow, or a pomegranate that has begun to grow. He ties it with a strip of papyrus and says: These are first fruits. Rabbi Shimon says: Even though he designated them at this early stage, he again designates them as first fruits after they are detached from the ground. 

How does one bring the first fruits to Jerusalem?... 

An ox<footnote data-num="11"/> would walk before the people. Its horns would be plated with gold and it would have a crown of olive branches on its head. The flute would be played before them until they drew near to Jerusalem.

All the craftsman in Jerusalem would stand before them and greet them, saying: Our brethren, residents of such and such place, welcome! 

The flute was played before them until they reached the Temple Mount. Once they reached the Temple Mount, everyone, even King Agrippas himself, would take the basket on his shoulder and enter until he reached the Temple courtyard.<footnote data-num="12"/> When the one carrying the fruits reached the courtyard, the Levites would begin reciting their song.<footnote data-num="13"/> <source>(Mishna Bikkurim 3:1–4) </source>

Parashat Ki Tavo opens with the mitzva of first fruits. An individual takes the fruits that grew first and brings them to the Temple. There, he is obligated to thank God for His acts of kindness in the past and in the present. The Sages describe the impressive ceremony of the bringing of the first f