Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the mitzvah of hava’at habikkurim, offering the first fruits of the seven species for which the Land of Israel is praised.
The farmer schleps his new fruit up to Yerushalayim and the Torah provides a formula for him to recite while offering his bikkurim. The words are familiar as they are found in the Haggdah shel Pesach.
The language is difficult to understand, however, for when he begins his declaration he states, “higadeti hayom – I have declared today….” He speaks in the past tense, …