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During Temple times, there was a mitzva to bring the first fruits (bikurim) to the priests in the Temple. Any Jew who owned property in the Land of Israel and grew any of the seven species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates) would mark the fruits that were first to bud and declare: “These are first fruits.” Once they ripened, the owner picked them, placed them in a pretty container, and took them with great fanfare to Jerusalem. When the first fruits were presented to a priest in the Temple, the owner recited the biblical text known as mikra bikurim (avowal verses, Deuteronomy 26:3-10), which summarizes the story and vision of the Jewish people. One would leave after bowing down to God. Then the family had a festive meal before God, making sure to include the needy in this spread.
Just as there is a mitzva to set aside (and present) the first of the produce, there is a mitzva to set aside (and sacrifice) the firstborn of the animals. Furthermore, the mitzva to sanctify and redeem one’s firstborn son (pidyon ha-ben, 13:5 above) is so important that the Torah passage that mentions it is one of the four passages found in tefillin (20:8 below). The idea behind all of these sanctified “firsts” is everything should begin with a sacred ideal, which elicits inspiration and blessing upon all that follows. Similarly, whenever a person is faced with an important decision (such as whom to marry, what profession to train in, where to work, or where to live), the primary consideration must be value-based: Will a given choice help me become a better person and improve the world more effectively? With this as the frame of reference, all other considerations can be properly weighed, and the decision reached will be a source of blessing and success.
