Walking to Jerusalem
(Words and Music by Lisa Litman)

Introduction:

In ancient times, Jewish farmers, following the laws of the Torah (Deuteronomy 26: 1-12), checked their fields and orchards prior to Shavuot for the very first growing fruit. After it ripened, the farmers put this first fruit and all of the other first fruits that grew on their properties into a special basket that they brought to the Kohein (priest) in the Beit Hamikdash (temple) on Shavuot.

Shavuot is one of the three major festivals where farmers walked their offerings to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Shavuot, Sukkot, and Pesach became known as "foot" festivals. (See Summer harvest Activity)

Lyrics:

We're walking to Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
We're walking to Jerusalem to bring the first fruits.
First fruits, first fruits,
We're gonna bring the first fruits.
We're walking to Jerusalem to bring the first fruits.