In this week’s parsha the Torah describes to us what will be when we come to settle the land. The first Mitzvah we are given is a very interesting one.

We are told that when we come to Israel, the first thing we are meant to do is collect fruit. 

וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֞ מֵֽרֵאשִׁ֣ית | כָּל־פְּרִ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תָּבִ֧יא מֵֽאַרְצְךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה’ אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָ֖ךְ

The obvious question is, why? Why is collecting fruit so critical to the success of our acclimation in Israel?
One answer is as follows. Being in Israel is never about the here and now. It is never about the zoomed in picture of myself today. My story and my legacy is larger than that. The entire Jewish People’s story is larger than that. We, as a nation and as a people must from day one, focus on the fruit. We must focus on what today will bring and understand that whatever hard work I do today, whatever life I am living today should always be for the fruit of tomorrow. And there will be fruit.

Hashem is telling us to focus on what matters when we first arrive. To make sure not to sweat the “small stuff” because fruit is what awaits us. 

Happiness is what awaits us. 

וְשָֽׂמַחְתָּ֣ בְכָל־הַטּ֗וֹב אֲשֶׁ֧ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּלְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ אַתָּה֙ וְהַלֵּוִ֔י וְהַגֵּ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ

When we live such a life, when we never lose focus on what matters most, happiness is inevitable.

This invaluable lesson is one we must internalize.

Hashem promises us a land of fruit, a land in which hard work brings bracha, a land that teaches us that challenges can lead ultimately to genuine and everlasting happiness.

May we know such happiness every day and may we be proud to understand that our happiness stems from living a life of beautiful values.

Shabbat Shalom.