In Chassidut the first fruits represent much more than just an annual agricultural offering. The first fruits symbolize the “first”: the initial thought, intention, or inspiration that comes to mind in a host of situations, not to mention, one’s initial gut-feeling or instinctive response to various circumstances. The more we have clarified and refined our consciousness, the more we can trust these initial reactions, thoughts, and insights.
The first words a Jew speaks in the morning are: “Thankful am I before You, living and eternal King, that You returned within me my soul with compassion – great is Your faithfulness.” This simple but profound expression of thanksgiving, acknowledging God’s compassion and strenght, is designed to help us start a new day on the right foot. Dedicating our first conscious thoughts and words of the day to praising God is like bringing the first fruits. Those who pray the morning prayers first thing in the morning before becoming involved in more worldly pursuits are also symbolically dedicating their first fruits to God.
