Your Fruits are Sweet • Bikkurim (First Fruits) on Tu B'Shevat and an Oral Exam

Last Thursday, on Rosh Hashanah La'Ilanot (the New Year for Trees), a giant basket of Bikkurim (first fruits) was presented to the Rav shlit"a as a gift from the precious children of the 6th-grade class of the 'Nechamat Zion' Talmud Torah, along with an oral exam on Mishnayos (the Oral Law).

Before noon on the holy day of Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for Trees, the precious children of the 6th-grade class of the 'Nechamat Zion' Talmud Torah—under the leadership of the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—ascended with joy into the inner sanctum. They came to present an offering of Bikkurim (first fruits) before the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) who shall be in those days, namely the Tzaddik, the Rav shlit"a.

The Rav shlit"a was moved by the sight of the basket of fruits for which the Land of Israel is praised, but the true nachas (spiritual satisfaction) came from the real offering of Bikkurim brought by the precious children: their review and knowledge of the entire Tractate Shabbat of the Mishnah by heart!! For many long minutes, they recited the chapters one after another before the Rav shlit"a. His face, radiant with happiness, testified that there is no greater satisfaction for the Rav than seeing his sweet fruits—the children of the 'Nechamat Zion' Talmud Torah—so proficient in the Shas (six orders) of the Mishnah.

Afterward, the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson on the greatness of the day, saying that just as a tree grows and blossoms on Tu B'Shevat, so too every child studying in 'Nechamat Zion' is like a "tree of the field" that blossoms anew on Tu B'Shevat. He also spoke about the virtue of memorizing Mishnayos by heart.

The Rav shlit"a blessed all his sweet fruits—the pure children—and especially went out of his way to praise and express gratitude to the 6th-grade teacher, Rabbi Steinberg (may Hashem protect and sustain him). The Rav said it is evident that he "sows in tears" and invests all his strength and energy to uplift and raise these young lambs for the service of Hashem, and one can see the "joyful song" he reaps in these wise and righteous children, in the Rav's holy words! Finally, last but not least, the Rav shlit"a praised the administration of the institutions, led by Rabbi Natan Chananya shlit"a, who invests day and night into the 'Shuvu Banim Nechamat Zion' institutions.

Below is a photo gallery from the event: