Ki Savo (1): Remembering Hashem

In this week's Parsha, Am Yisrael receives the Mitvah of Bikurim. This interesting Mitzvah require us not only to bring the first of our fruits to Yerushalayim and present them to the Kohen, but there is another factor: the recital of a long script that begins with how Lavan tried to destroy Yaakov and eventually how things transpired into the descent int Egypt and the eventual redemption from there.

This begs an obvious question: There are many Mitzvos that require us t Keep Yetzias Mitzrayim in mind, but there is no other Mitzvah that necessitates the repetition of a speech. How did this particular text end up coupled with the Mitzvah of Bikurim in particular?

The Maor VaShemesh answers as follows:

The Kever of  R' Kalonymous Kalman
Epstien zy"a, the Maor VaShemesh

When we don't have the yolk of Gashmiyus holding us down it's very easy to serve Hsehem. When there is no need to worry about Parnasah and meals are fully catered then its not as much of a challenge to fully devote one's self to the pursuit of Ruchniyus.

The difficulty begins when Gashmiyus comes into the picture. It has the ability to distract us and cool off our inner fire for Avodas Hashem. It makes us tired and lost for energy. When we are over worked then Davening and learning become that much more tedious.

This is why the 'script' is attached to Bikurim. Bikurim represents all of our toil and effort in the realm of Olam HaZeh. The climax of the whole story is that even after all of Yaakov Avinu's labor and then all of that times in Egypt working through the back-breaking labor we still arrived at a place of "ונצעק אל ה'" And we cried out to Hashem and were redeemed.We didn't let our inner flame become extinguished. Even after all the involvement in Gashmiyus we still called out to Hashem and maintained the Kesher. Bikurim is our efforts, and the story we tell declares that even after all of that, our connection to Hashem is strong as ever.