The people are about to enter the Promised Land. This is the Land which is flowing with milk and honey; we see that the people are to take “of the fruit that is on the ground”. Note that they are not permitted to take all of the fruit; not even all of the fruit that is on the ground. No, they are to take of the fruit that is on the ground. Just as the earlier verse (Deut. 8:8) is referring to the seven species through which Eretz Israel is praised, here too, the praise of the Land. Rashi proceeds to explain two expressions in Deut. 8:8, which are relevant to the mitzvah of firstfruits: oil-producing olives: “ אֲגוּרִי olives,” olives that retain their oil, keeping it gathered (אָגוּר) [as it were] inside it. [Hence, it is the superior fruits which must be brought here]. And in the same verse (Deut. 8:8): honey: That is the honey of dates. “That’s good enough” is not good enough. The Almighty only wants what is best for us, which is why He makes His rules so clear. Similarly in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verse 16 the writer says that “everyone who believes”, not “anyone who believes” will be eternally safe. The difference between those words is huge!
 

Isn’t it wonderful, that the timing of the people entering Ha Eretz was to be at Harvest?!

There is a stark warning in the Parsha. If the people obey the commands, then things will go well. If they are disobedient, then things will go badly. A potted history of the Jewish people can run thusly: When the people follow the Torah, things are good and the people occupy the Land. When the people do not follow the Torah things go badly and the people are in Exile. 

Things have not always been good for Jewish people while living in exile. In many Moslem countries things were better than they were than in many Christian countries – how things have changed! Many Christian teachers have said that Jewish suffering at the hands if Christians is the judgement of The Almighty; Augustine of Hippo, for example, said that the suffering of the Jewish people was evidence that The Almighty was judging them. While there is an element of truth in this in that every good father disciplines his children, it can be used to justify antisemitism (note the spelling; I do not write “Anti-Semitism” as there is no such a thing as “Semitism” for anyone to be “Anti”). Sadly Christian antisemitism is not new, nor is it unusual. Hence one of the stated purposes of CMJ is to combat antisemitism in every form. This is part of the reasoning behind Alex Jacob’s book, “The Case For Enlargement Theology”; this is a book which counters much of the wrong teaching regarding Jewish people which is so prevalent in UK Theological Colleges. While I was a student at Trinity College Bristol more than 1 of the Faculty taught what can best be defined as variations on the general theme of Replacement Teaching. 
 

Our Haftarah is the 6th of the 7 Haftarot of Consolation. This portion looks forward to Ha Geulah, The Redemption. At the right time the Messiah will usher in the (as yet future) Golden Age. The Age To Come, the Olam Haba’ah, when the Jewish people will be highly regarded by the world; not because we are in any way better, but simply because The Almighty has chosen us to be His corporate messengers. Doubtless it will also be a time when some Christians realise how badly they have treated the Jewish people and will want to make amends. This brings us to the passage from the Apostolic Writings, or Newer Testament. The BCP Lectionary gives us this wonderful passage from Hebrews. Let mutual love continue!

We are told to imitate our leaders, and that Yeshua is the same yesterday, today and forever. Clearly discernment is needed when it comes to who we should imitate! It wouldn’t be a very good idea to imitate the ones who are jealous, or the ones who are greedy. Rather we should imitate those who are students themselves, those who have genuine love one for another. In Pirke Avot (the Ethics of the Fathers) we are told: Moses received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua to the elders; the elders to the prophets; and the prophets handed it down to the men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence around the Torah. 
As we take on responsibility, let us pray for wisdom. There will be those who may choose to imitate us!!