This week’s Parsha is Parshat Ki Tavo. In Perek 28, Pasuk 2, we read, ”ולקחת מראשית כל פרי האדמה", which can be translated to “You shall take from the first of every fruit of the ground.” Rashi further explains by saying, “A person goes down into his field and when he sees a ripe fig, he would wrap a ‘gemi’ — a blade of grass — around it, and declare, ‘This is bikkurim (the first fruit)’”.
Question: Why in particular would you wrap a gemi around the fig?
Answer: Being a farmer is not an easy task and takes a tremendous amount of hard work. Therefore, when a farmer sees his fruit beginning to grow, he might think, “Kochi ve’otzem yadi asah li et hachayil hazeh” — “My strength and the might of my hand made me all this wealth” (Perek ח Pasuk יז). However, it is important to always remember that none of that would have been possible without Hashem’s help. The word “gemi”, גמי, is an acronym for "גדולים מעשה י-ה-ו-ה", which translates to “Great are the wonders of Hashem.” Therefore, when the farmer first sees plants or fruits growing from the earth , he should immediately tie a “gemi” to it as a reminder that his flourishing crop is all thanks to Hashem.
By: Tova Bossewitch
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