Building blessings in the Promised Land

The Torah tells of the Israelite’s journey to the Promised Land, a rich land of blessing. Moses never enters the land, but he instructs the Children Israel to perform a ceremony of thanksgiving when they settle. He told them to take some of the first fruits of the soil and put these into a basket and bring this gift for God at the Temple. This service of thanksgiving holds special meaning for the Days of Awe.

Moses spoke to our ancestors and instructed them as they prepared to enter a new land, the Land of Israel, the Promised Land. Our ancestors were told that one of the first things they should do upon entering the Land of Israel was to give. During this period of reflection, let us ask ourselves how we give. Not just how much, but with what type of attitude. Do we give openly, or do we give for some sort of reward or recompense? Do we give to one another freely? Do we give of ourselves, or only from our stuff? Do we share our hopes and our dreams with those who are close to us in family or friendship? Do we give of our fears? It is easy to share our strengths; but when we share our vulnerabilities, we build more significant relationships. Let us learn to better at giving to each other, to our families, friends and community. With open hands and open hearts let us give of our time, energy, and commitment to those who work in our world for the good of all.

What did the Israelites put in the basket? They placed the best fruits into the basket for the service of God. We must place the best of all that we have into our baskets. Yet, we are just human beings and it would be presumptuous, even arrogant, to think we can offer gifts that are divine. We can be thoughtful. Our ancestors did not put weeds, mud, rocks, or whatever insects happen to be crawling on the produce into the basket. They took only the good and left whatever remained.

This is a good procedure for all of us to follow in our lives. Life is full of conflicts and challenges; no life that is truly lived can avoid these. This is part of our human condition. Our challenge is to manage our differences in healthy ways. We know that every relationship has weeds that strain our growth. Every relationship has mud that we can foolishly sling at one another. Each of us can be stubborn and unyielding like a rock. Every relationship has plenty of things that bug us. But it is our choice to choose the blessings. We need not put the mud, the weeds, the bugs, and the rocks into the basket and carry them with us. It is our choice to leave behind the petty parts of life. Let us gather and take on our life’s journey the precious fruits, the special moments of intimacy, the joys we share with others, the accomplishments of life. During this new year, let us try to fill our baskets with all that is good and to leave the rest behind.

Of course when our ancestors entered, the Promised Land of Israel, they did not find the land plowed and seeded, the crops growing, the ripe fruits waiting for them to pluck. Rather they found plenty of boulders that needed to be hauled away. They needed to clear the brush; the needed to plow the fields, to plant and to weed. Only after the efforts of hard work, were our ancestors able to enjoy the fullness of harvest.

Our American culture is constantly barraging us with the message of instant gratification. Jewish tradition teaches us that we must take time and expend effort to build a life filled with blessings. Intimacy, family, growth, meaningful work, friendship, membership in a community take time and effort. Let us learn to build a better world, one blessing at a time. When we do this, we will choose life and blessing and we will live in the promised land.