Page 39 - HaMizrachi Shavuot 5783 USA

Personal Narrative and

Collective Destiny

A Tribute to the Dee Family

Malka Hubscher

T he Torah calls Shavuot the “Chag Aramean” (Devarim 26:5), describing the

Jewish enslavement in Egypt, the Exodus
HaBikkurim,” referring to the
special offerings brought in the
and the conquest of Israel.
Temple during the festival. But
what, exactly, is the mitzvah of bikkurim? Interestingly, the farmers do not offer
Interestingly, there are two entirely sepa- praise to G-d for the winter rains and their
rate offerings referred to as bikkurim in the successful crops, as you might expect.
Torah, and both are offered in the Temple Instead, the farmers recite a Jewish his-
on Shavuot. tory lesson! Why are there two bikkurim
sacrifices on Shavuot, and why must farm-
“You shall bring out of your dwellings ers recite Arami Oved Avi? are also part of something far greater – the
two wave-loaves of two-tenth parts of an glorious destiny of Klal Yisrael!
ephah; they shall be of fine flour, baked As Jews, we must find a balance between Since the brutal murder of Lucy, Maia and
our identity as singular individuals con-
with leaven, as bikkurim for Hashem” (Vay- Rina Dee hy”d on Chol Hamoed Pesach, the
ikra 23:17). The first bikkurim offering is necting to our Creator in our own unique Dee family has shown our community in
way, while simultaneously identifying
what is known as the Shtei HaLechem, the with the collective Jewish narrative that Efrat and the entire world that every Jew’s
only offering on the altar that consists of personal destiny is bound up together
leavened bread. As there is a prohibition transcends our own personal experience. with the destiny of our people. From the
On Shavuot, the day of Matan Torah, we
against bringing chametz on the altar, depths of their horrific personal pain
these loaves of bread are only waved by accept the Torah both as individuals and and suffering, they have inspired us all
as members of the Jewish nation.
the kohanim, and not actually offered on to take pride in our heritage and in our
the altar. This is a communal offering paid This is why we bring two bikkurim sacrifices Land, encouraging us to unite and hope
for by public funds and is baked from the on Shavuot. The two offerings represent for better times.
first flour from the new crop of wheat, the duality of our identity. The communal
harvested just before Shavuot. It is a Shtei HaLechem represents the story of our As we celebrate Shavuot, we must commit
proclamation of gratitude to Hashem for nation, while the first fruit offering rep- to keeping the beautiful memories of Lucy,
another year of bounty and prosperity on resents each individual’s part in this story. Maia and Rina alive. They were taken
behalf of all of Israel. But it is not enough to bring these two from us on Pesach, but they remain in
offerings separately; they must be inter- our hearts as we march forward to Mount
But there is also a second bikkurim offering: twined. And so every farmer must recite Sinai. As Leo Dee has taught us, our people
“You shall take the first of all the fruit of “Arami Oved Avi,” the history of our people, are not only united by common suffering,
the ground, which you shall bring from to remember that his personal fate is intrin- but also ד ָח ֶא ב ֵל ְּ ב ד ָח ֶא ׁשי ִא ְּ כ, “as one person
the Land Hashem your G-d gives you, sically bound up with our national destiny. with one heart,” united by our national
and put it in a basket and go to the place love, mission and determination.
Hashem your G-d will choose…” (Devarim For this reason, we recite the very same
26:2). At harvest time, each individual passage on Seder night, 50 days earlier. The
farmer enters his own field and marks goal of Seder night is for each and every
the first fruits from that year’s yield. On Jew, in every generation, to feel like he
Shavuot, he makes a pilgrimage to the left Egypt – that he is part of Am Yisrael!
Temple and offers a basket of the first The Exodus is not ancient history, but
fruits to the kohen. Unlike the communal rather our story, a story that continues to
Shtei HaLechem, this offering is brought by this very day. This theme begins on Seder Malka Hubscher
each individual. As he presents his basket, night, continues through the seven weeks has taught in seminaries and women’s
each farmer recites a text called “Arami of the Omer, and culminates on Shavuot. learning programs in Israel since 2000.
Oved Avi,” “My father was a wandering Yes, we are all unique individuals, but we

| 39