"The priest shall take the basket from your hand." Deuteronomy 26:4
The first fruits of one's field were brought to the Temple as a gesture of thanksgiving. The first fruits
were put in a basket, which was handed to the priest, who in turn placed it before the altar. When this ritual was concluded, the
priest blessed the bringer of the Bikurim (first fruit), saying: "Just as you have brought the first fruits today, so
may you merit to repeat this ritual next year as well."
The Rabbis tell us that a rich person would bring his first fruits in a golden basket, whereas a poor person
would bring his in a wicker basket. The gold basket was returned to the owner by the priest, while the more modest basket
made of wicker was not returned. Why?
The one who brings Bikurim is given a heavenly blessing that he should live another year and merit to bring
Bikurim once again. If he remains poor he will bring the fruits in a wicker basket again, but if he becomes rich he will bring
them in a gold basket, and will have no use for the wicker basket next year. That is why the priest does not return the basket
to the poor man, for that is part of his blessing. It is like saying, "May you not need this basket next year."
The rich man, on the other hand, is given back his gold basket, for that is part of his blessing, that he
should merit to remain wealthy and bring Bikurim in a gold basket again. What at first sight seemed to be an unfair practice
turned out to be a beautiful blessing. As always, the ways of the Torah are pleasant.
