First Harvest
In ancient times, Israelite
farmers conducted pilgrimages to Jerusalem on three harvest holidays (Sukkot,
Passover, and Shavu’ot (also known as Yom Habikkurin – the Day of the First
Fruits).
They
tied a binding around the branches of the first
harvest and brought it to the Holy Temple as an offering. This binding
signified that these were “Bikkurim” or the First Fruit Offeri
ng.
The land of Israel
has 7 native agricultural species (barley, wheat, pomegranate, grapes, figs,
dates and olives). In the painting, the seven species are symbolized by
adding the 4 wheat shafts + 2 olive branches + 1 binding.
You may also observe that there are
eighteen olives in the painting to give the painting
life (Chai)!