Our Torah portion, Ki Tavo, describes a very specific moment when our ancestors would enter the land of Israel, after wandering for decades. It teaches that after we cultivate our land, when we have the very first fruits that grow from the ground, we should bring them to Jerusalem as an offering. From the first moment of cultivating the land, the Israelites are asked to think about how they will give back.
And as they do so, as they approach with their first fruit, no matter how small it is, they make a declaration about their past. They describe our ancient ancestors and their journeys, that they went to Egypt and became a great nation, that they became slaves, and that they were redeemed. The individual bringing the offering ends with a declaration of presence: this was my past that has led me to this moment, with this offering of gratitude for all that I’ve been through and how I’ve arrived here, today, now.
In so many ways, this is like a theme of who we are as a people: We remember how we got here, how we had trials along the way, and how we persevered and enjoyed the miracle of redemption. But that awareness is paired here with an action; the connection to our past and our story is coupled with giving of ourselves. It acknowledges that we are part of something bigger.
Gratitude connects us and draws a thread from our past to our present. This moment, for our ancient ancestors, cultivates an acknowledgement that we didn’t get here - anywhere - all by ourselves. We are part of a national story that is bigger than us. There is a long arc of our people’s story, and it ends with those Israelites in that moment, and with us, in this moment.
But the part that strikes me is that they turn that gratitude into a discipline. They are meant to bring their first fruits every single year. And every year, they tell their story, locating themselves inside of it, seeing themselves as a part of the arc of that national story. In doing it every year, it comes with the acknowledgement that we are always building on our story. The story is different than it was last year; I am different than I was last year. And every time they tell the story, gratitude is present.
This time of year, the work we engage in is all about telling our story. We are constantly telling our story in one way or another, but we are asked to do it intentionally, and to ask ourselves: In what way am I part of the story? Is my role intentional, and do I see how I’m a part of something bigger? And perhaps, most importantly, does it lead to gratitude?
