First Fruit Protection: Part 1 & 2
In this session AnaRina and Caz discuss the period between Shavuot and Sukkot and the First Fruits that were brought to Jerusalem during this time.
Part 1:
* Jerusalem Day (Yerushalayim Heaven and Earth connected)
• Shavuot- Shemot 34:22/26 first fruits
• First fruit season falls between Shavuot and Sukkot.
• Bikkurim – 1 Sam 6:13: Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. – Ark was returned in this time
• Brought form from 7 species:
o Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates
Part 2:
* In G-d's system of governance there is always a hierarchy. Even in books and food. We see this also with Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple.
• Order of levels in the baskets: Barley, wheat, olives, dates, pomegranates and then grapes (Saying Bracha (food blessing): different levels of importance)
• Accompanied by religious officials - Bikkurim gets intact to Temple
• Significance of First Fruits one testifies/acknowledges:
o Not ungrateful, not haughty, not forgetting his roots from where he comes from, acknowledges and remembers G-d’s GOODNESS
o Places G-d ABOVE ALL his concerns
o Acknowledges G-d as KING
• Firstfruits Story connected to Jerusalem
*The Split of the two Kingdoms (House of Israel and House of Judah) and how this came to play in the story of King Hezekiah
• Hezekiah
o GREAT REFORM:
rededicating the Temple,
breaking down the idols,
reinstating Pesach (and the other festivals)
as well as the first fruit offerings.
First Fruit Protection: Part 3
In this session AnaRina and Caz discuss the period between Shavuot and Sukkot and the First Fruits that were brought to Jerusalem during this time.
Part 3:
Continuing the story of King Hezekiah and what happened after the reform:
o 24th of May – Starts Rosh Chodesh Sivan
o 2 Chron 31:7 (In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month)
o Thus Hezekiah showed that he placed God above all his concerns
o After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, (2 Chron 32:1) => Hezekiah’s worst enemy
o The digging of the tunnel, enlarging the city, refugees seeking refuge in Jerusalem
o G-d's promise to Isaiah
o Divine intervention Do G-d’s commandments, stay under His protection
o Take note:
it's not that the enemy didn’t come.
Hezekiah put every possible human effort in to be ready for what was coming at him and his people. After that, he placed his faith in G-d.
First Fruit Protection: Part 4
In this session, AnaRina and Caz discuss the period between Shavuot and Sukkot and the First Fruits that were brought to Jerusalem during this time.
Part 4:
20th of Sivan – marks a string of pogroms against Jews in Europe over history
• Tammuz (Heat of summer)
• 17th of Tammuz [Breaching the walls]– 4 fasts
• Other calamities:
o First Tablets broke (golden calf)
Desert generation: how is it possible that after all the miracles they sinned? LESSON TO BE LEARNED – DON’T JUDGE. Most enlightened generation, filled with G-d’s knowledge. This was to teach a way FOR REPENTANCE to multitudes and also the future generations.
Even the path of Repentance had to be created.
o The offering of daily sacrifice suspended (First Temple)
o The breakthrough of Temple walls (Second Temple)
o Apustamus the wicked burned the Torah
o Antiochus Epiphanes erected an Idol in Temple
• 17 Tammuz starts the 3 week period to 9 Av - We will cover this in length in the next session (G-d willing)
• 9 Av: Many Christians joining the Jewish people. Repenting for the atrocities done onto the Jewish people
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