Parshat Ki Tavo

This post is dedicated in loving memory of my grandfather who passed away yesterday. May the Torah learnt from this post be a source of merit for the soul of Avraham ben Levana and may G-d shelter his soul under the wings of the Shechina.
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This week's Torah portion contains the commandment of the bikurim, the first fruit offerings. The Torah commands each farmer to a portion of his first fruit harvest to the Temple as an offering to G-d. The Talmud explains that this obligation only takes effect once all of the Jewish People are settled in the Land of Israel (which took 14 years from the time the Israelites entered the Land of Israel under Joshua). The reason for this is that, since the first fruit offering is to be made in happiness and joy, this joy can only be felt once the entire nation is firmly entrenched and living on their own soil.
This concept means that we cannot be truly happy while others are still suffering or unsettled. The Jewish People are one complete entity and real happiness only comes once everybody is fulfilled. We cannot be selfish and only look out for ourselves- we can never rest as long as our brothers are in difficulty.
Today, most of the former inhabitants of Gush Katif are still living in tent cities arter being expelled over 2 years ago. We, the Jewish Nation, cannot keep silent as they are in distress- our collective happiness depends on it.