In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, the Torah commands us to bring the bikkurim to the Beit HaMikdash. Notice the language:
וְלָקַחְתָּ֞ מֵרֵאשִׁ֣ית ׀ כׇּל־פְּרִ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תָּבִ֧יא מֵֽאַרְצְךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָ֖ךְ וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ בַטֶּ֑נֶא וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃
You are to take from the first of all the fruit of the ground that you produce from your land that YHWH your God is giving you; you are to put it in a basket and are to go to the place that YHWH your God chooses to have his name dwell.
Deuteronomy 26:2
Sforno, a 16th century Italian rabbi and biblical commentator, understands “ראשית” (reisheet), not as “first”, which is the generally accepted translation. He understands this word as “choicest” or “best.” He cites different places in the Tanakh to support this different interpretation. As such, he encourages us to go beyond just the order of giving – that is, first – to offer the best of what we have.
When we think about the difference between “first” and “best” in the context of school, we can apply this concept in several ways:
- In academic work: It’s not about being the first to finish an assignment or test; what matters most is putting in the effort to produce your best work. Quality should take precedence over speed.
- In participation: Being the first to speak in class isn’t always as meaningful as offering a thoughtful, well-considered response. The goal should be contributing something valuable, not just being the first to speak.
- In relationships: Similarly, being the first to make a friend or be part of a group isn’t as important as being the best kind of friend—kind, supportive, and respectful.
Just as the Torah encourages us to bring our choicest or best bikkurim, we are encouraged to bring our best selves to everything we do in school—whether it’s our studies, our relationships, or our contributions to the community. It’s about the quality of what we offer, not just being the first to act.
